IVAN LEONARD OLSON

Ivan Leonard Olson passed away Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015.
Len was born Nov. 12, 1932 and raised in Fort Frances, Ont. He met his future bride, Margaret MacNaughton, while stationed with the Air Force in Winnipeg, Man.
After their wedding there in 1960, Len and Marg started their family in Fort Frances with the arrivals of Norman, Sharon, and Carl. The births of Eric and Gordon completed the family after a move to the Lakehead area.
Although a jack of all trades, Len specialized in carpentry, operating as an independent contractor building and renovating homes.
After several years of raising five children in the confined quarters of a tiny apartment on Simpson Street, it was an exciting adventure for the family to build a new home on the nearly inaccessible 80-acre parcel that they purchased in 1973 in Conmee Township.
This back-to-the-land adventure was tempered by the hardships of no electricity, telephone, nor running water for several years.
Over time, Dad helped construct homes for sons Norman, Carl, and Eric along what was now called Olson Road.
After a stroke in 2002, Len became identified with the cane that his son, Carl, fashioned for him from a sturdy tree branch. The gnarled twists on it and the seeing eye marble became a conversation starter wherever he went.
It accompanied him on long walks in B.C. while visiting his kids and on trips from his country home to the city.
Later that year, he felt renewed after taking the Alpha course while visiting in B.C. He was eager to introduce the course to his friends on his return home.
Len was predeceased by his parents, Oscar and Minnie; sister, Florence; wife, Margaret; son, Carl; and granddaughter, Kare.
He is survived by his children, Norman (Shiro) of Mission, B.C., Sharon (Brent) of Vernon B.C., Eric (Domonique) of Conmee Township, Ont., and Gord (Tammy) of Delta, B.C.; grandchildren, Sander, Sarah, Oskar, Nolan, Kristina, Lucas, Lynnaya, Keshi, Joshua, and Carla; and great-grandchildren, Ava and Maya.
Len also is survived by his sister, Vivian, of Fort Frances, Ont.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 1 p.m. at the O’Connor Free Methodist Church, 293 Sitch Rd. in Hymers, with Pastor Chris Fiorito officiating.