Thomas A.A. Oleson

Tom passed away November 13th, 2024, at 88 years of age. He died of natural causes. Tom leaves behind his beloved wife Manuela, and equally beloved children Mariela and Marivi, grandchildren Daniel, Grace, and Caleb, and the happy memories they gave him. Tom was born November 8, 1936, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, only child of Art & Gertrude Oleson. He grew up in Omaha, won full scholarships to many Ivy League universities, and graduated in 1958 from Cornell. Tom's Stanford’s MBA admission test scores got him into Mensa. In 1952, Tom and his mother spent 5 weeks touring Europe, enjoying a trip won by his father in a contest. His first job was in the NY office of Cargill, world's largest grain trading firm. This put him in contact with International Proteins, who sent him to run their fishmeal operations in Lima, Peru. He oversaw the offices in Ecuador, Peru and Chile. In Lima, he married Manuela in 1964. After promotion to Vice-President, and a member of their Board of Directors, the rise of IPC stock permitted him to take early retirement in 1970 in Santa Barbara, California. Boredom set in, so in 1979 Tom began a second career which enabled them to live 20 1/2 years in Madrid, Rome, Stockholm, and Milan. Tom roamed the world, including Istanbul, Dubai, and Rio. Second retirement from Mexico City, December 1996. Final years in Gig Harbor, Washington. Tom was very active in two hobbies - historical board wargaming, where he was one of the best-known designers and players worldwide. 590,000 copies of his game on Napoleon in Spain were published in the #1 Spanish newspaper, EL PAIS. For 20 years, he was editor-at-large of THE PRANCING HORSE, US Ferrari club journal, fruit of owning a dozen Ferraris. Tom was one of only 4 members of the Ferrari club who joined in its second year.. As a boy, Tom had 12 years perfect attendance at Lutheran Bible study. As an adult, he gladly converted to Catholicism, joining his devout wife. Faith and family were most important to Tom. Tom’s service will be held at 9am on Thursday, January 23rd, 2024, at St Nicholas Parish, 3510 Rosedale Street NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335.

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