Martin Olson, age 90, of Renton, WA passed away unexpectedly on April 3, 2018 at Valley Medical Center hospital. He was born in Snoqualmie, WA on April 28, 1927 to Martin Albert and Ida Olson, who were immigrants from Sweden. Martin grew up learning Swedish as his primary language until he went to Upper Preston, WA grade school where he learned English.
He continued his education at Issaquah High School and graduated at 17 in 1944. He then spent a year cutting firewood, raising chickens, driving a feed truck, and planting lawns in the Renton Highlands before he enlisted in the Navy where he served in the Pacific, visiting Japan, China, and Guam working on a sea plane tender. Martin was honorably discharged August 12, 1946, and worked briefly as a logger before joining the Pacific Northwest (PNW) Bell Telephone Company in 1947.
He worked as a residential installer, a PBX installer, and as a communications engineer, where he helped create Seattle’s 911 system. Martin met Gloria Jean Towns at a mid-summer dance at Vasa Park on Lake Sammamish in June 1950 and they married on April 21, 1951. They lived in Seattle for 9 years before building their own house in Renton in 1960.
They also had a cabin on Lake Tapps where they generously entertained regularly, showing guests from all over the world how to water ski, or taking them on boat rides. After 42 years with PNW Bell/US West/Qwest Martin retired in 1989, and bought a motor home in which he and Gloria spent 6 months visiting all the USA states. They would also spend the following winters in Mesa, AZ playing golf, dancing, swimming, and socializing with their many friends and relatives, eventually buying a park model home there.
After Gloria’s death in 2012, Martin continued to go to Mesa until he sold his place there just 2 weeks before he died. Martin was an active member in Our Savior Lutheran Church in Issaquah, WA, and Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa, AZ. Martin was full of energy and loved life and family and friends.
Some of his favorite pastimes were dancing and playing golf with his friends several times a week, playing cards and Sudoku puzzles, and travelling. He went on many cruises to Europe, Australia/New Zealand, Alaska, and the Panama Canal. Martin was an active member of the VFW.
He frequented VFW dances and activities—in recent years with his wonderful friend Vi. He was a member of the Skogsblomman Vasa Lodge, and loved attending the twice yearly Swedish meatball dinners in Upper Preston, WA. Martin had a big 90th birthday celebration last year and was excited to see and hear from so many of his friends and relatives.
He was so proud of the blue 1950 pickup truck that his grandson David had restored. Martin is survived by his two sons Michael (Vanessa) of Olympia, WA, and Carey (Mary) of Missoula, MT and their families, as well as extended family in Sweden. Martin loved his family and getting together with his grandchildren (Christi, Rae, Rachel, David, Samuel, and Elizabeth) and seeing his great grandchildren (Skyler, Laina, Leif, and Irene).
He had a great sense of humor, loved Olle and Lena jokes, fixing things, and sharing his life stories. He was a patient teacher, very generous, always eager to help, and a kind and wonderful father, grandfather, and great grandfather who will be greatly missed. There will be a public military committal service at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St, Kent, WA 98042 on April 27, 2018 at 1pm.
A celebration of life memorial will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 745 Front St S, Issaquah, WA 98027 on April 28 (Martin’s birthday) at 1 pm. Please go to www. flintofts.com for directions and more information.
Cards may be sent to 3334 Frances Dr. SE Olympia, WA 98503. In lieu of flowers please make donations in Martin’s name to the Renton VFW post #1263, 416 Burnett Ave. S, Renton, WA 98057, the American Cancer Society, or the American Heart Association.
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