Dr. James Robert Olson

James Robert Olson, Sr.
Paradise—Dr. James Robert Olson, Sr., 66, passed away peacefully in his home on July 8, 2010, after a long and brave battle with an unknown neurological disease.
Jim was born on July 26, 1943, in Whittier, California, to Robert and Emily Kintz Olson. He grew up in Southern California where he graduated from Norwalk High School. As a child and teenager, Jim fell in love with the outdoors and camping, which would later play a pivotal role in his career. His favorite places were Death Valley and Yosemite National Park.
Jim married Rebecca Ann Fetters on September 11, 1964, in La Mirada, California, and he was later sealed to her for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple on June 7, 1980. He was a devoted family man and loved spending time with his children, making road trips to national parks, visiting the local playground, and gathering the family for meals. Later, he enjoyed spending time with his 9 grandchildren. Jim was a valiant man and a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a testimony that only grew stronger over the years as he struggled with the debilitating nature of his disease.
Jim proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Security Agency in the Philippine Islands from 1966-1969 during the Vietnam War. Upon his return, he concentrated on his schooling, completing a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, a Master’s degree in Wood Science and a Doctoral degree in Wood Physics, all from the University of California, Berkeley.
After graduation, he and his family moved to Lexington, Kentucky, where Jim was an Associate Professor of Wood Science and Technology in the Forestry Department at the University of Kentucky. Jim’s last research projects included studying the wood found in Monte Verde, Chile; determining a viable replacement for the Eastern Red Cedar used in pencils; and designing a program to protect loggers from spiked trees by using an MRI machine to examine wood before log processing. Being on the faculty at the University of Kentucky, Jim developed a love for Kentucky Wildcats basketball, which remains an important pastime among his children. Upon his retirement in 1992, he and his family moved to Paradise, Utah, to be close to their dear friends Bruce and Margie Obray.
Jim is survived by his wife, Beckie of Paradise, Utah; his son, Rob (Liz) and their children, Hannah and Madeleine of Rome, Georgia; his daughter, Heidi of Paradise, Utah; his son, Erik (Katie) and their children, Maggie, Jacob, Thomas, Richard and Audrey of Salt Lake City, Utah; his daughter, Gretchen (John) and their children, Scott and Julia of Charlottesville, Virginia; his mother, Emily Olson of Yuba City, California; his sisters Emmy Lou Bateman of Whittier, California and Beckie Wreski of Mahwah, New Jersey; his brother John Olson of San Jose, California; and numerous other relatives.
The family would like to express special thanks and appreciation to the nurses and aides of Community Nursing and Hospice, Dr. Steven Salisbury, Louise Tobey, P.A., and the many kind friends and neighbors in Paradise for their compassionate care and concern for Beckie and Jim during Jim’s illness.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, July 12, 2010 in the Paradise 2nd Ward Chapel, 90 60 S. 200 W. in Paradise (old church). A viewing will be held prior to services from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. Interment will be in the Paradise Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net