Ima-Jean Olson, 78, a 56-year resident of York Center who helped raise funds to purchase the Fire Department’s first truck, died of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Thursday, May 30, in her home. Mrs. Olson was born and raised in Lindsborg, Kan. She pursued music at Bethany College in Lindsborg for two years. She played the piano, trombone and violin, her daughter, Susan Jean Graves, said. Mrs. Olson also went to cosmetology school. She was working as a hair stylist when she was introduced to a war hero, Capt. George Olson, who died six months ago. The couple married upon his discharge from the military in 1945 and moved to Chicago. They finally settled in York Center, an unincorporated area of Lombard. With no fire department in their area, George Olson and his neighbors formed one, while Mrs. Olson formed a ladies auxiliary to raise money for the first firetruck. “It was actually a milk truck,” her daughter said. Mrs. Olson taught piano out of her house while raising her three children. She arranged all the music, taught the parts and directed the Christmas pageant at her church, Community Congregational Church in Villa Park. “She was a perfectionist, determined and strong willed, but most importantly, she was a loving mother and friend,” her daughter said. Mrs. Olson is also survived by a son, Thomas, and six grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in Knollcrest Funeral Home, 1500 S. Meyers Rd., Lombard. Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home.
