Obituary: Opal E. Olander

Olander

O pal E. Olander, 92, of Longmont, died January 18, 2010 at The Bridge Assisted Living.She was born on October 17, 1917 in Denver at St. Joseph’s Hospital to Winifred Harold and Evelyn Linnea (Peterson) Ellison. She was raised and educated in Albion, Nebraska.

Opal met her husband, Herman A. Olander, at a USO dance at Lowry Field. They married on March 10, 1944 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Longmont and celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2009.
She worked in numerous fields during her life. She was an airplane inspector and accountability coordinator for aircraft engines at Lowry Field during World War II. She also worked for Travelers Insurance Company in Omaha, Nebr. and Denver. After staying home while her sons were young, Opal returned to work outside the home in secretarial and budgeting positions. Opal also volunteered as a “Pink Lady” at Longmont United Hospital for several years.

Opal moved to Longmont in 1962 from Arvada. She then moved to Houston in 1975, to Estes Park in 1980 and then returned to Longmont in 1989.

She enjoyed reading, crocheting, sewing, visiting with family and friends and RV traveling to the mountains, both U.S. coasts and several Canadian provinces.

She was preceded in death by her mother in 1945; her father in 1972; a brother Harold Ellison and a son, Paul Martin Olander.

She is survived by her husband Herman Olander of Longmont; two sons, Steve Olander (Barbara) of Longmont and Doug Olander (Maureen) of Orangevale, California.; a granddaughter, Shannon Roth (Lance) and two great-grandsons, Justin and Caden Roth, all of Colorado Springs, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services have been held and were entrusted to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Memorial Contributions may be made to First Evangelical Lutheran Church, or to The Ryssby Memorial Fund, or to HospiceCare of Boulder & Broomfield Counties c/o Ahlberg Funeral Chapel.