OLSON, Lawrence "Larry" O., age 60

Died: Monday, March 12th, 2018

Memorial Service: Friday, March 16, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church (corner of Starr Avenue and Eddy Lane) with Pastor Mary Erickson officiating

Visitation: from 12:30 p.m. until time of service at church on Friday

A private family interment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials

Lawrence "Larry" O. Olson, age 60, of Eau Claire passed away Monday, March 12, 2018 surrounded by family after a brief but severe illness.

Larry was born April 1, 1957 to the late Ole and Liz (Eklund) Olson in Bremerton, WA. The family moved quite often with Ole's Naval career. Larry graduated from high school in Frederic, WI. From a young age, Larry enjoyed fishing, hunting, and being outdoors. He was a proud Army Veteran, serving 6 years in the Army and 18 years in the Army Reserves. He was eager to extend a thanks to those who have served and would always make an effort to seek them out for a firm handshake and conversation.

Larry had a fascination and love for technology and all things computer. Armed with his college degree and skill for fixing computer systems (earning the nickname "King"), he found a rewarding but too short career in IT with Minnesota based UPS. A life-long champion of the Boy Scouts, he served as scoutmaster of Troop 460 in New Richmond for several years assisting and encouraging several young men (including his son) to earn the prestigious Eagle Award.

After a severe stroke left him unable to work, Larry moved to Eau Claire to be near family. Larry quickly connected with Hope Lutheran Church and was able to turn his disability into a unique ability to help others. He found a new purpose volunteering to help others in any way he could: from reading to children at the hospital, to encouraging others who had also suffered a stroke to find the strength to power through, get past the mental and physical trauma, and live their best life.

Larry was a charismatic and gregarious man who could have a conversation with anyone. He enjoyed making new friends and chatting with old ones. His enthusiasm for life and living it to the fullest can be summed up in one line he used to say "If I were doing any better, there would be two of me!" Even with his disability, and the help of close friends and family, he continued to get out hunting and fishing whenever he could.

Left to remember Larry's zest for life are his children, Heather and Leroy; sister, Lynda (Annie) Olson; aunts, Betty Olson, Marge (Les) Eldeen, Ann Lindblad, Sylvia (Jim) Martins, and Karen (Craig) Vote; uncles, Karl (Betty) Eklund and John (Liz) Eklund; numerous cousins and countless friends. Larry was greeted in his next life by his parents, grandparents, and other relatives.

His family will be forever be grateful to the loving staff at Dove West for making his last years comfortable and happy. We are so thankful he shared his charismatic and positive personality with not only the staff, but with other residents who needed his encouragement.