Richard Elmer Olson

Richard E. Olson, of Marshfield, Wisconsin passed peacefully in the early evening of Christmas Day, December 25, 2020 at Marshfield Medical Center after a brief illness.

Memorial services for Richard will be held at Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home, 1010 East Veterans Parkway, Marshfield on Friday, July 9, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Mark Krueger officiating. Military Honors will be performed by the American Legion Post No. 54. The visitation for family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.  

 Born on September 29, 1929 to Elmer and Mary (York) Olson of Marshfield, Dick spent the majority of his life in the community he loved and served. After graduating from Marshfield Senior High School, he went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy. During his years in Madison, Dad also joined ROTC. After graduation, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Army and served honorably in the Korean War assigned to a MASH unit in command of three ambulances and their crews.

 After returning from Korea, Dick took a job as a pharmacist in Lansing, Michigan. Soon after, on July 16, 1955, he would marry the love of his life, Beverly Lehnherr. They moved to Marquette, Michigan from Lansing soon after that.

 In 1957, Dick joined Wing Drug in Marshfield and would work as a pharmacist there into the early 1980’s. After that, he joined the staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital as a pharmacist. After retiring in the mid-2000’s, Dick and Bev would spend countless hours together working around the house, serving local charitable organizations, including Soup or Socks and Zion United Methodist Church, amongst others. Dick was also a long-time member of the Marshfield Lion’s Club, recently receiving the 2020 Knight of Sight Fellowship Award from the Lions Eye Bank of Wisconsin, along with his fellow Lion and sidekick LeRoy Egstad. In addition to his volunteerism, Dick was also a passionate supporter of the University of Wisconsin and the work of the Wisconsin School of Pharmacy.

 Dick is survived by his wife, Beverly (Lehnherr) Olson, his son John (Ann) of Lakeville, Minnesota; his granddaughter Johannah Arndt (Ryan) and great-granddaughter Helena of Crystal, MN and grandson J.J. Olson (Kenzie) and great-granddaughters Freya and Tova of Olympia, Washington. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer Olson and Mary (Yort) Olson; a sister, Ellen Kowalczyk and an infant grandson Richard Scott Olson.

 In lieu of flowers, all memorials should be directed to the Marshfield Lion’s Club on his behalf.

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