Tucson, AZ – Robert Clyde Olson, of Tucson, Arizona, died May 29, 2018. Cremation and a private family remembrance will be held.
Robert was born to Olaus Racine Olson and Hazel Clare (Barnes) on July 26, 1929, in Thief River Falls.  He was raised there with his sister Marcella and his brothers Raymond and James. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, attended Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota, and graduated from the University of Houston in Texas.  His education included USMC Officers Basic School, USN Naval Flight School, FAA Commercial Pilot – SMEL, USN Avionics School, USN Nuclear weapons School, and post graduate EE at the University of Minnesota.
Robert was a U.S.M.C.R. Naval aviator for 23 years.  Following his aviation career, he worked for BMEWS in Thule, Greenland, in Clear, Alaska, and in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He also worked for many companies across the United States.
Bob married his wife, Marlene Marie Bushway, at Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church in Detroit, Michigan, on October 23, 1954. After marrying, they lived in Memphis, Tennessee, and Santa Anna, California, while Bob was stationed with the USMC.  Together they raised their daughters, Nancy, Linda, and Jane, and one son, Jeffrey, as they lived in many different areas from Memphis, Tennessee, to Santa Anna, California, to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Southfield, Michigan, to Tacoma, Washington, to Fairbanks, Alaska, to Colorado Springs and Castle Rock, Colorado, to West Milford, New Jersey, to Cedar Falls, Iowa. Bob and Marlene divorced in 1979.
Robert moved on to employment in Hawthorne, California, and in Northbrook, Illinois. On February 25, 1984, he married Carrie Lynn Karich in Chicago, Illinois. They shared many adventures in their time together throughout Colorado, Alaska, including Seldovia, and Arizona before ending their marriage.
In addition to flying and traveling, Bob enjoyed his friends, fishing, reading, astronomy, all things electronic, and was a collector of gadgets.
Bob is survived by his three daughters, Nancy (Hai) Vo-Ba of Fort Collins, Colorado; Linda Olson of Parker, Colorado; Jane (Kevin) Seichter also of Parker, Colorado; son, Jeffrey Olson of Anchor Point, Alaska; five grandchildren, Dai-An, Brooke, Joshua, Paige, and Nicole, and by his former spouse, Carrie Olson.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Racine and Hazel; sister, Marcella; brothers Raymond and James, and his former spouse Marlene (Keil).
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