Cover photo for Eugene D. Olson's Obituary
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1934 Eugene 2021

Eugene D. Olson

February 1, 1934 — April 11, 2021

Davenport Crystal Lake

Capt. Eugene “Gene” D. Olson, 87, of Crystal Lake passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on April 11, 2021. He was born on February 1, 1934, to the late Selmer and Gladys (Vadnie) Olson in Hoffman, Minnesota. He was baptized and confirmed at Lincoln Lutheran Church, Hoffman, MN, and attended elementary school and graduated from Hoffman High School in 1952. He was a star athlete in his high school years. He also attended the University of Minnesota for two years.

On February 20, 1954, Gene was united in marriage to Darlene M. Dahlen at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Evansville, MN. They lived in Minneapolis, MN, for several years, where he also began his aviation training to become a pilot. Gene and Darlene were blessed with four beautiful children, Rory, Dawn, Randy, and Jill.

In 1964, his biggest dream came true. He was hired by United Airlines in Chicago, IL. The family packed up and moved to Crystal Lake, IL. In Illinois, they added to their family two more beautiful children who needed a home, Kevin and Karla, for a family with six children.

He taught all of his three boys to fly, starting before they were 16 years of age, so they could fly solo on their birthday.

Gene was hired by United Airlines on July 13, 1964, and was employed there till 2000, a career spanning 36 years. He got his initial flight experience in Minnesota as a flight instructor, crop duster pilot, charter pilot, and sea plane pilot/instructor. He joined the Experimental Aircraft Association in about 1968 and purchased a 1941 Clipped Wing Cub. He flew competition Aerobatics with it and won the IAC Sportsman National Championship in Fond du Lac, WI, in 1972. Later the same year, he won the ACA Sportsman National Championship in Dennison, TX. These achievements were the first, in the same calendar year, by any pilot ever. This earned him a listing in the record book Who’s Who in Aviation.

Gene had a mild heart attack at the age of 50. He could not fly then per regulations. Although he didn’t require surgery, he decided to undergo an experimental process of angioplasty. He became in essence a lab rat undergoing demanding testing at the Mayo Clinics in Minnesota and Florida. He missed approximately two years of flying. But he was the first airline pilot to ever go through this process. He returned to the Captain’s seat in the B-747, paving the way for all airline pilots to follow.

Of all the airplanes he flew as Captain—B-737, B-727, DC-10, B-747—he was most proud of flying United Airlines Charter Flights as Captain of the 747 back and forth during Desert Storm.

Gene retired from flying for United Airlines in 2000 but still flew his own Aerobatic Hiperbipe airplane for several years following his retirement.

Gene will live on in the hearts of his loving wife of 67 years, Darlene; his children, Rory of Woodstock, IL; Dr. Dawn (David) Levitan of Crystal Lake, IL; Randy of Denver, CO; Jill (Michael) Denker of Harvard, IL; Kevin (Gabriella) Cook of Salem, WI; and Karla (Ed) Urias of Lake in the Hills, IL; 16 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren; his brother, Francis (Lois) Olson of Fort Worth, TX; and several cousins and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Selmer and Gladys Olson, and two grandchildren.

His mother once said that when all his little friends were playing in the dirt, driving their cars around, Gene was always flying his car around.

Blessed be the memory of Eugene (Gene) D. Olson, “Ole.”

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 28 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the funeral home.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eugene D. Olson, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, May 28, 2021

4:00 - 6:00 pm (Central time)

Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory

419 East Terra Cotta Avenue, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

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