Joyce Olson

Joyce Marie Johnson Olson passed away peacefully with her family at her side on September 9, 2015 at the Regional West Garden County Nursing home after a lengthy and courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, September 18, 2015 at the Oshkosh United Methodist Church with Pastor Jeniffer Brand officiating. Services will conclude at the church and burial will be private at the Lisco Memorial Cemetery.

Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to the Garden County Health Services Foundation Fund, 1100 West 2nd Street, Oshkosh, Nebraska, 69154.

Holechek Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Olson family.

Born to Richard and Edna Johnson in Lincoln, Nebraska, on October 24, 1932, where she grew up as an only child and graduated from Lincoln High School. Joyce went on to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and received a B.A. from the College of Arts and Sciences with a degree in Journalism in 1954. Joyce was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and a Mortar Board Honorary.

Upon graduating from UNL, Joyce was employed as a Bridal Consultant for Miller & Paine department store. While working in Lincoln, Joyce began a courtship with William S. Olson, originally from Lisco, Nebraska. They were united in marriage on November 23, 1956.

Joyce and Bill moved to Ogallala, Nebraska, in 1958 where they resided for nine years before moving to Oshkosh in 1967 where they lived for the remainder of her life.

Throughout her adult life, Joyce was an active volunteer, community supporter, and dedicated wife and mother. She was a life member of the United Methodist Church serving in many leadership roles including the Memorial Committee, helping to implement the beautiful stained glass windows, assisting with the annual Mother Daughter Banquet, and actively participating in the United Methodist Women’s group.

Joyce served as the Chairperson of the Bicentennial Committee in 1976 for Garden County; she also served on the University Of Nebraska Alumni Board Of Directors for six years, and was an active member of P.E.O.

After retirement, Joyce and Bill enjoyed 16 years living in Green Valley, Arizona, during the winter months.

Joyce might be best known for her creative wit, and her love for antiques, opening and operating, “Attic Antiques” on Main Street of Oshkosh for many years. She adored sharing her passion and talents for decorating, entertaining, sewing, writing and cooking with those she loved.

In addition to her loving husband, Bill, of 58 years, Joyce’s greatest legacy is being mother to her three children and five grandchildren. She is survived by daughter Christine (John) Vanderliet and grandson Erik of Murphy’s, California, daughter Carla (Ken) Lehman and grandchildren Scott and Natalie Ayers of Denver, Colorado, and daughter Beth (Mark) Brase and granddaughters Sarah and Ellie of Windsor, Colorado. She is survived by sister-in-law Barbara Olson Ferguson of Greenwood Village, Colorado, and brother-in-law Thomas Olson and wife Cynthia of Lisco, Nebraska, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister-in-law Marjorie Olson Eaton and husband Gene of Lincoln, Nebraska, and brother-in-law Charles Ferguson (Barbara) of Greenwood Village, Colorado.