Maurice C. Olson

     Maurice C. Olson, 92, of Sparta, died Saturday, September 28, 2019, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tomah, WI. He was born on December 1, 1926, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Sparta to Ralph and Gertrude (Williams) Olson. He grew up in Angelo and Farmers Valley.

     Maurice served in the United States Army during WWII. He then came back to the Sparta area and worked on the family farm until he took a job working at the La Crosse County Farm.  Also working at La Crosse County was his future bride, Edwina Schultz. They married on May 28, 1955, at the United Methodist Church in Sparta. Maurice later farmed for a short time in Farmers Valley and then farmed on Summit Ridge until he retired in 1979.  At that time, Maurice and Edwina built a new home in Farmers Valley adjacent to the Sparta-Elroy Bike Trail.  He also worked a couple years at the Norwalk cheese factory.

     He was an avid bike rider and enjoyed riding on the Sparta-Elroy Bike Trail into his late 80’s. Maurice met many people on the trail near the Sparta Tunnel and Summit to include former Governor Tommy Thompson.  He enjoyed the outdoors, watching and feeding birds, and also building bluebird houses.  Maurice liked country music and enjoyed strumming on his guitar. 

     Maurice is survived by his wife of 64 years, Edwina; three children, Donna (James) Mingus of West Salem, Jean (Will Schultz) Greeno of Norwalk, and Rose (Scott Naeseth) White of Sparta; five grandchildren, Jenny (Brad) Thill of West Salem, Matt (Elizabeth) Mingus of West Salem, Alicia Greeno of Norwalk, Brandon Greeno of La Crosse, and Cody (Destiny) White of Sparta; three great grandchildren, Emily and Alexis Thill, and Hayden White; brother, Robert Olson of Sparta; brother-in-law, Earl Tichenor of Bangor; and many relatives and friends.

     He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, William and George; and sister, Margaret Tichenor.

     A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2019, at United Methodist Church, Sparta, with Reverend Loretta Waughtal officiating. Burial with full military honors, provided by VFW Post 2112 of Sparta, will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sparta.

     Family and friends are invited to call from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, and from 10 a.m. until time of services on Wednesday at the church. 

     The Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.  

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