Pastors Phillip and Ginny Olson say their ‘CHOME’ (Church-Home) is not only comfortable, it’s everything they could want in a retirement home. The pair recently moved from the St. Peter Lutheran parsonage in Eldorado, to the former First Lutheran Church building that sits along Juniper Road, just inside the Fayette County boundary south of Ossian. (Janell Bradley photos.)

Pastors Ginny and Phillip Olson have a new "Chome"

Janell Bradley
Guest Correspondent

For Pastors Ginny and Philip Olson, the former First Lutheran Church in rural Ossian is not only a place to call home, but a place they can finally call their own.

As pastors, the Olsons, most recently of Eldorado, were accustomed to living in parsonages owned by the churches they served. That also meant pulling up roots, on occasion.

“It’s the American dream to own a house,” laughs Ginny, “and now we know that sense of ownership.”

Having met one another as students at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, the pastors have spent a near lifetime ministering to others. Their work began as missionaries in Senegal, West Africa, where they stayed until returning to the United States with their first two children, Ana and Martha, about 1978. Three more children, Maryn, Andrew and Amy, would later complete the family. Today, there are also seven grandchildren – all of whom are the biggest fans of their grandparents’ unique retirement home.

Until recently when he took retirement, Phillip Olson was pastor at West Clermont Lutheran Church. Ginny continues to serve as pastor for the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Eldorado – the church that members of the former First Lutheran parish voted to join when they dissolved due to dwindling numbers a few years ago.

As the Olsons began pondering how a church building could become their home, Phillip says he had some very specific ideas. Working with his children and their spouses there was a lot of sweat equity poured into this labor of love. During the de-struct phase, members of the Luther College wrestling squad assisted the Olsons. Work included removal of the stairs to the balcony, taking down the chimney and hauling out everything that had been in the basement.

Marion "Ole" Olson

    Marion Clifford “Ole” Olson, 92, of Monona, Iowa went home to heaven Sunday,        November 3,2019 at Postville Good Samaritan Society in Postville, Iowa.

    Marion was born July 13, 1927 to Henry T. and Clara (Ostlie) Olson on the family farm near Gunder, Iowa.  He was baptized August 14, 1927 and was confirmed June 29, 1941 at Marion Lutheran Church in Gunder, Iowa. He attended Central School in the country near Elgin, Iowa.  Ole graduated in 1948 from Elgin Watchmaker’s College in Elgin, Illinois.  After graduation he apprenticed for two years at Lange’s Jewelry in Decorah, Iowa.  

Clermont Legion Post 375 celebrated its 100^th Anniversary Monday evening with a joint banquet with the ladies auxiliary at the Clermont Opera House. Enjoying the celebration were seated Richard Barnes; standing (l-r) Kenny Kohls, Bob Swenson, State Representative Michael Bergan, Bob Fassbinder, Roger Berg, Jerry Anderson, Art Matt, Bob Tillman, Phil Ruckdashel, Bert Henderson, Damien Matt, Ron Jesperson, Dennis Goddard,  Ralph Kneeland and Rod Wagner.

Clermont Legion and Auxiliary remain 100 years strong

Vicki Rowland
Contributing Writer

On Monday, November 11, 2019, members of Clermont Sheehan-Olson Post 375 American Legion and Legion Auxiliary met to mark the 100^thAnniversary of their formation.  A catered dinner was served at West Clermont Lutheran Church and a program was held.  

After the First World War a caucus was held in Paris March 15-17. 1919,to form The American Legion. This event was attended by two Iowans.  Later that year, a delegation of thirty-eight Iowans attended a planning caucus in St. Louis. The chartering of local Iowa posts began on May 28, 1919, and the first convention of the American Legion was held at the Hotel Fort Des Moines on September 4-5, 1919.  Therefore, the period of March 15 through September 16, 1919, can be described as the formation period of the American Legion in Iowa.  Governor Kim Reynolds signed a Proclamation proclaiming the 100 Year Anniversary of the American Legion in Iowa.

Wenthe wins close race to regain Mayor's seat

By Jack Swanson
jswanson@fayettecountynewspapers.com

Mayor Andrew Wenthe was in a close battle with challenger Bobby Jo Larson  in the Fayette City election, Tuesday, Nov. 5, but he did prevail in the end.

Wenthe had 145 votes and Larson had 120.