Eugene DeForrest Olson

Eugene DeForrest Olson, 93, was born in Chesterton, Indiana on June 5, 1927 on his parents farm. He died on January 7, 2021 in Onaga, Kansas. He graduated from Chesterton High School in 1945. At 17 years old he joined the United States Navy. Gene married Dorothy H. Jagiela on August 13, 1955 in Gary Indiana. This union was blessed with four children. They traveled with Navy orders until settling in Loveland, Colorado in 1971. He was construction foreman for Geise/Skipworth Buildings, security guard at Fort Saint Vrain Nuclear Plant. He sold Real Estate in the Glen Haven area and for Tandem Real Estate in Loveland. He also successfully graduated from Auctioneering School. After Dorothy died Gene built a small cabin on Gale’s farm in Onaga, Kansas and moved there in 2011. During Senior Chief Olson’s 30 years in the Navy he served aboard the USS Albuquerque (PF7), USS McNair (DD679), USS Dashiell (DD659), USS Triton (SSN586) the first nuclear submarine that circumnavigated the world under water, USS James K. Polk (SSBN645), USS Clamagore (SS343) with shore duty in San Pedro, California, NATTC Glynco, Georgia and SSC, NTC, Great Lakes, Illinois. He attended many Ship Reunions after his wife passed and enjoyed rekindling friendships with his Shipmates. He was a lifetime member of the VFW in Loveland, having served during WWII, Korea and Vietnam for which he earned many medals and awards. Dorothy and Eugene were instrumental in bringing the Traditional Latin Mass to Fort Collins. With a small group of Catholics, they bid on, bought and renovated an old school building on Highway 1 into a chapel. Annunciation Chapel was consecrated by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of the Society of Saint Pius X. Gene served as Chapel Coordinator for decades. He is survived by his daughter Mary K. Cason (Jeffrey) of Loveland, Colorado, daughter Gale M. Barr (Richard) of Onaga, Kansas and son Kevin E. Olson (Synthia) of Loveland, Colorado, his sister Marlene Valpatic of Stuart, Florida, sisters-in-law Jane Modrak and Alice Jagiela, 17 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Gene is preceded in death by his beloved wife Dorothy H. Jagiela Olson, daughter Pamela J. Olson, his parents Alfred T and Margaret Michaels Olson, his brother Delmer A. Olson brother-in-law Stephen (Hoppy) Valpatic, numerous brothers and sisters-in-law and a grandson Andrew D. B. Cason. A Rosary was held at Viegut Funeral Home on January 11, 2021. Mass of Christian Burial was held at Viegut Funeral Home on January 12, 2021 with Bishop Joseph Pfeiffer officiating, interment at Loveland Burial Park with Military Honors.