Owen (Ole) Arthur Thorson

Monday, June 25, 2018 1:00 pm

Owen (Ole) Arthur Thorson, 85, of Spring Grove, passed away Saturday, June 23, at his home. Funeral services will are Thursday, June 28, at 11 a.m., at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church in rural Dorchester. Pastor Elizabeth Hermeier will officiate. Burial is in Iowa River Cemetery, rural Dorchester. Friends may call Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m., at Roble Funeral Home in Spring Grove, and one hour prior to services at the church Thursday.

He was born Feb. 25, 1933, in Spring Grove to Arnold and Della (Tilleras) Thorson. He was a lifelong area resident.

He was a 1951 Spring Grove High School graduate.

Owen married Carol Harvey at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in New Albin Oct. 23, 1953.

Owen worked at Trane Company in La Crosse, Wis., for 25 years; at MCI and Ja-Son Construction companies. He was also a farmer, logger and stock car driver, and a Norwegian storyteller.

Owen was a member of Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church, he was a volunteer fireman, president of the school board for many years, a member of the church council and the Masonic Lodge.

Owen’s greatest joys were spending time with his family especially playing nip-a-nose with his grandchildren, farming and fishing.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Carol, of Spring Grove; his children: Jan (Bob) Klug of Caledonia, Minn., Greg (Terri) Thorson of Decorah, Gary Thorson of New Albin, Joel (Janice) Thorson of Dorchester and his dog, Katy; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; his brother, Don Thorson, of Maryland; and his sisters, Judy Klodnicki of Fort Collins, Colo. and Esther Roverud of Melbourne Beach, Fla.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Steve and Jim, and several in-laws.