Vail Olson, age 67, of Nevada, Iowa, died Wednesday, February 19, 2014, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, Iowa.
Memorial services were held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, February 23, 2014, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada, with Pastor David Burling officiating. The family received friends at the church from 1:00 p.m. Sunday until the time of services.
Born July 11, 1946, in Eldora, Iowa, Vail M. Olson was the son of Maynard and Vivian (Johnson) Olson. He grew up in the McCallsburg area and graduated from Nevada High School in 1964.
On June 11, 1971, Vail was united in marriage to Sandra Thompson at Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada. The couple was blessed with five children, Teri, Lynete, Chad, Mindy, and Felicia.
Vail was an electrician at Iowa State University for 25 years and also worked in the Story County area. He was a member of Memorial Lutheran Church. He enjoyed golfing, deer hunting, and bowling in his spare time. He loved his family, especially time spent with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Sandy; five children, Teri (Don) Thompson of McCallsburg, Lynete (Richard) Neal of West Des Moines, Chad (Jennifer) Olson of Nevada, Mindy (Steve) Shill of Nevada, and Felicia Olson of Ames; 17 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Vince (Sheryl) Olson of Nevada, and Mondell Olson of Ames; two sisters, Valerie (Jim) Klein, and Marcia (Mich) Tendall, all of Nevada; and many extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Brayton Shill; two brothers, Maynard Olson, Jr., and Marly Olson; and a nephew, Andy Klein.
Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada was entrusted with the care of Vail and his family.