Conrad Merle Olsson
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Conrad Merle Olsson, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, passed away on Friday, October 1st at LMH Health in Lawrence, Kansas. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska on June 25, 1934, son of Helge and Nettie (Eggers) Olsson.
Connie, as he was often called, attended Omaha North High School, and graduated from the University of Omaha. He was employed by Northern Natural Gas Company for 36 years in the Engineering/Construction Division in Omaha, Nebraska, and Morris, Illinois and later in the Operations Division, in Great Bend and Bushton, Kansas, retiring in 1993.
He participated in various community programs, including United Way, RSVP, and Meals on Wheels. He was active on a number of church councils, boards and committees in Omaha, Great Bend, and Salina.
He was preceded in death by his wife Norma Jean, his parents, and stepparents, Harvey Turnby and Louise Olsson; brother Edward Olsson; sisters Luella Thomas, Virginia Wieland and Mary Jean Cammarata; grandson, Zachary Phillips; nephew Dennis Thomas and nieces Lisa Thomas and Mickey Wieland.
He is survived by sons; David and wife Ina of Centennial, Colorado, Alan Hartle and wife Valerie of Bushnell, Florida, Erik and wife Ellen of Winfield, Kansas; daughters Susan Brown and husband Kent of Winchester, Tennessee, Cyndi Phillips and husband Joel of Baldwin City, Kansas; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; also, brother, Kenneth Olsson and wife Mary Ellen of Pender, Nebraska; sister-in-law Lynne Olsson of Omaha; and many nephews and nieces.
A Memorial service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 8, 2021, at First Covenant Church, 2625 E Magnolia Road, Salina, KS 67401 with a private family only inurnment.
The service will be live streamed at firstcov.link/watch
I had the pleasure of working with Connie at the Northern Natural Gas office in Great Bend. The designers in the office who worked under him would say they had not seen another like Connie. One said he would walk into Connie’s office thinking he had a design problem and walk out with no problem at all. He had the very rare combination of abilities of both technical design and artistic drawing. His character drawings, that he did just for our pleasure, matched or exceeded any art store professional drawing. I also had the greater pleasure of knowing Connie. Everyone who knew him enjoyed and appreciated their time with him. Connie was truly a bright spot in my life and the lives of everyone who knew him. He was a blessing for us all.
I the pleasure and honor to work with Connie in Great Bend and Bushton. He was a very talented man and always had a great sense of humor, he will be greatly missed.
He is resting with our Lord and Savior until we all can be united again.
Ken and Hattie Stein
Susan so sorry of your loss. Your dad sounds like an amazing person just like you. We love you dearly
Gary & Bev Cammarata:
We have known Connie since he lived in Omaha. When he visited his son in the Denver area, he always spent time with his sister, Mary Cammarata, and other family members. He was such a fun, smart and sincere guy. We will always fondly remember him and miss him greatly!
Chuck Tillotson
I became acquainted with Connie during our Freshman year at North High School in Omaha. Connie was so full of life even in his younger days and because of that and his sence of humor it was easy to develop a friendship with him. But a strong bond soon was created between the two of us when we ended up taking a course in Architectural Drafting together in our first year at North and continued every year all the way through high school. John Sturn mentions in his condolence message how Connie had a natural ability to draw both technically and comically. I can vouch for this too as he would be “touching up his technical drawing with a cartoon that was hidden within the details. We went to school in the days of Kilroy. Many times I would leave my drafting board for a bit only to come back and find a Kilroy symbol he had posted on my drawing. We had a lot of fun over the years and managed to stay in touch and even attended a class reunion in 2002 wherein my wife Helen and his lovely wife Norman Jean got to know each. From that day forward we both kept in touch, almost on a daily basis via email and periodic phone calls. Connie’s passing is such a shock to us as we had a recent conversation wherein he sounded so full of life as usual. Helen and I offer our
deepest felt sorrows and condolences to all of Connie’s children and extended family and we pray for all, knowing that Connie has reached his ultimate home in Heaven. May he rest in peace.