Edward Albert Olson (EAO to many), age 90, of Grand Portage, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 4, 2020.
Ed was born August 13, 1929, in Grand Portage, Minnesota, on Pete’s Island. He enjoyed family gatherings, playing his harmonica and accordion, going on drives (mainly the post office several times per day), working in his yard and keeping up with the weather. He was a member of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and a proud veteran of the U.S. Army serving from 1951-1953.
Ed was a very hard worker starting as a young boy. Growing up without running water or electricity, he had to help his family get by through hunting, fishing and whatever else was needed back in those days. Most of his working life was spent on boats and ships, starting with ferries on Lake Superior, crab boats in Alaska and retiring in 1994 as Chief Engineer on cargo ships running from Seattle, Washington, to numerous ports in Alaska. Retirement didn’t last long as he started working at the Grand Portage Transfer Station, now referred to as EAO Transfer Station, for almost 20 years, retiring again in 2018 at 85 years old.
Ed is preceded in death by his parents Albert Olson and Mary Dahl; his wife Veronica; three children: Shirley Sylvester, Brian Olson, and Sheryl Olson; sister Lillian Deschampe and brother Russell Dahl; and great grandson Kyler Deschampe.
Ed is survived by his two daughters: Sharon Olson and Carol Cleveland; son-in-law Leonard Sylvester; grandchildren: Gail (Wallace) Deschampe, Tammy Custer, Shaunna Wood, Vanessa (John) LeMaster, Ryan (Leslie) Olson Sr., Jennifer (Paul) Spry, Kristi Krenz, Desiree (Howard) Likiaksa, and Darren (Eden) Waha; 18 great grandchildren; 11 great great grandchildren; brothers: Fred Olson, Carl Dahl, Arvid Dahl, Larry Dahl and Ron Dahl; sisters: Elsie Smith, Irene Carnegie and Mary Holt; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Per Ed’s request there will be no service, however there will be a celebration of his life in the near future. His remains will be buried next to his loving wife at Mount Rose Cemetery in Grand Portage, Minnesota.
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