Bio: Olson, Kenneth – Retirement from Sunburst Home (1982)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Olson, Webb, Sloan

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 2/04/1982

Kenneth Olson leaving Sunburst Home (Retirement - 1982)

“I’m going to take it as easy as I can.” That was the plan for Kenneth Olson who recently retired as a social worker for Sunburst Youth Homes in Neillsville.

Olson was honored at a recent farewell party thrown for him by Sunburst staff and other friends. Nearly 90 attended the event with honors and an accumulation of memories in book form presented to him. He also received a drawing of himself, done by Carol Webb, a teacher at Sunburst. The evening was highlighted with jokes concerning Olson’s Norwegian heritage and a visit by an individual humorously speaking in a Norske brogue.

Olson had previously told his wife, Augie, that he would not retire until he was 69. He failed to make that mark but not by much. “I retired one-half hour before my 69th birthday,” he recalled of January 9 his last stint as the evening social worker for Sunburst.

The Olsons, who make their home on Grand Avenue, are planning a few trips in their retirement. Last year, they visited Norway. They are looking forward to a visit to the Holy Lands.

Olson has been active in the community. Prior to joining Sunburst, He owned Model Laundry for a number of years. He served as president of the school board from 1947 to 1960 and was Neillsville’s mayor for eleven years.

The Olson’s have four children. They are Augie Jo of Great Falls, Montana, Larry of Stoughton, Mary Lou of Richland Center and Ellen of Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Olson’s replacement at Sunburst is Dick Sloan, who is returning to the child institution. Sloan was a houseparent and then left to return to school and other employment.