Obituary for Clifford "Cliff" Olson
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SOUTH PARIS - Clifford G. “Cliff” Olson, 91, passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Maine Veterans’ Home. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa on December 28, 1932 to Marvin C. and Frances V. (Findlay) Olson. He grew up in Des Moines and also spent some time in Lander, Wyoming where his mother’s family lived.
He graduated from the Des Moines Technical High School in 1952 and joined the Air Force that year. He served as a jet mechanic in Korea, with some time in Japan. Later he was stationed at the Loring Air Force Base in northern Maine. While there he met the love of his life, Wilma Blackstone, who was living in Presque Isle.
After leaving the Air Force in 1956 he and Wilma got married. They moved to St. Paul, Minnesota and he attended the University of Northwestern. Upon graduation Cliff and Wilma moved to Hamilton, Massachusetts. Cliff enrolled in Gordon Divinity School to study to be a pastor. While he was studying at Gordon their daughter Joy was born.
Cliff’s first church was the Lynn Advent Christian church in Lynn, Massachusetts. Their son Steven was born while Cliff and Wilma lived in Lynn. Later he pastored both the Swedish Congregational and Courtland Congregational churches while living in Everett.
In 1971 the family moved to Fitchville, Connecticut where Clifford was the pastor of the Fitchville Baptist Church. In 1978 he moved to pastor the Center Barnstead Christian church in Center Barnstead, New Hampshire.
Later he went to the Turner Village Church in Turner, Maine. After which he became interested in ministry to the elderly in a nursing home setting. He and Wilma moved to Jay, Maine and he spent over 25 years doing Community Chaplaincy ministry in nursing homes in the Jay/Farmington area.
He and Wilma attended the Bean’s Corner Baptist Church and Cliff also did some supply preaching in area churches.
In recent years he developed Alzheimer’s and stayed at home as long as family found it possible. Wilma went ahead of him to be with Jesus in December 2021.
He went to reside at the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris within the past year. While there he continued to pray with and encourage people even though his memory was diminished. Recently his condition rapidly declined and he passed very peacefully within a couple of days.
Preceding his departure were his parents, Marvin and Francis Olson; his brother, John Olson; his stepmother, LaFern Olson; and his beloved wife, Wilma Olson.
Cliff is survived by his son Steve Olson and his wife Joy Olson, his daughter Joy Nichols and her husband Bradley Nichols, his brother Marvin Gerald Olson and his wife Helga, his brother Kenneth Donald Olson and his wife Kay, and John Olson’s wife Jean. He is survived by his loving grandchildren, Jennifer Eaton and her husband Matthew, Addie Olson, Benjamin Nichols, and Matthew Nichols. He also leaves behind many wonderful nieces and nephews and their families.
He loved God, Wilma, family, people, fishing, making balsa wood model airplanes and popcorn. He would wish for all to know the love and rescue of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend to many.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Bean’s Corner Baptist Church, 17 Chesterville Road, Jay, ME at 11 am followed by a reception at the church. A graveside service will be held this spring at Birchland Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to share special memories, reflections, or words of sympathy in Cliff’s Book of Memories at www.wilesrc.com. Honored to be caring for the family of Clifford “Cliff” Olson is Wiles Remembrance Center of Farmington.
SOUTH PARIS - Clifford G. “Cliff” Olson, 91, passed away on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Maine Veterans’ Home. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa on December 28, 1932 to Marvin C. and Frances V. (Findlay) Olson. He grew up in Des Moines and also spent some time in Lander, Wyoming where his mother’s family lived.
He graduated from the Des Moines Technical High School in 1952 and joined the Air Force that year. He served as a jet mechanic in Korea, with some time in Japan. Later he was stationed at the Loring Air Force Base in northern Maine. While there he met the love of his life, Wilma Blackstone, who was living in Presque Isle.
After leaving the Air Force in 1956 he and Wilma got married. They moved to St. Paul, Minnesota and he attended the University of Northwestern. Upon graduation Cliff and Wilma moved to Hamilton, Massachusetts. Cliff enrolled in Gordon Divinity School to study to be a pastor. While he was studying at Gordon their daughter Joy was born.
Cliff’s first church was the Lynn Advent Christian church in Lynn, Massachusetts. Their son Steven was born while Cliff and Wilma lived in Lynn. Later he pastored both the Swedish Congregational and Courtland Congregational churches while living in Everett.
In 1971 the family moved to Fitchville, Connecticut where Clifford was the pastor of the Fitchville Baptist Church. In 1978 he moved to pastor the Center Barnstead Christian church in Center Barnstead, New Hampshire.
Later he went to the Turner Village Church in Turner, Maine. After which he became interested in ministry to the elderly in a nursing home setting. He and Wilma moved to Jay, Maine and he spent over 25 years doing Community Chaplaincy ministry in nursing homes in the Jay/Farmington area.
He and Wilma attended the Bean’s Corner Baptist Church and Cliff also did some supply preaching in area churches.
In recent years he developed Alzheimer’s and stayed at home as long as family found it possible. Wilma went ahead of him to be with Jesus in December 2021.
He went to reside at the Maine Veterans’ Home in South Paris within the past year. While there he continued to pray with and encourage people even though his memory was diminished. Recently his condition rapidly declined and he passed very peacefully within a couple of days.
Preceding his departure were his parents, Marvin and Francis Olson; his brother, John Olson; his stepmother, LaFern Olson; and his beloved wife, Wilma Olson.
Cliff is survived by his son Steve Olson and his wife Joy Olson, his daughter Joy Nichols and her husband Bradley Nichols, his brother Marvin Gerald Olson and his wife Helga, his brother Kenneth Donald Olson and his wife Kay, and John Olson’s wife Jean. He is survived by his loving grandchildren, Jennifer Eaton and her husband Matthew, Addie Olson, Benjamin Nichols, and Matthew Nichols. He also leaves behind many wonderful nieces and nephews and their families.
He loved God, Wilma, family, people, fishing, making balsa wood model airplanes and popcorn. He would wish for all to know the love and rescue of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was a wonderful husband, father and friend to many.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Bean’s Corner Baptist Church, 17 Chesterville Road, Jay, ME at 11 am followed by a reception at the church. A graveside service will be held this spring at Birchland Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to share special memories, reflections, or words of sympathy in Cliff’s Book of Memories at www.wilesrc.com. Honored to be caring for the family of Clifford “Cliff” Olson is Wiles Remembrance Center of Farmington.