Earl Channing Olesen

Earl Channing Olesen, the son of Harry and Grace (Drake) Olesen, was born March 3, 1929, at his parents’ home near Coon Rapids, Iowa, and died January 16, 2016, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 86 years, 10 months, and 13 days.
Earl was baptized at the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids. He attended rural schools in Guthrie County, Iowa, and then worked as a farm hand for several area farmers. In 1947, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During his tour of duty, his ship was stationed near Japan.
On August 15 1949, he was united in marriage to Jessie Long at the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids, Iowa. They were blessed with one son Dennis. They moved to California until Earl was honorably discharged from the service. They returned to the area, and Earl worked with his uncle buying livestock. Later Earl started farming on his own. They operated farms in the Audubon County and Guthrie County areas where they grew row crops and raised livestock until he retired in 2013. Earl and Jessie enjoyed their home, and then moved to the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa, in June of 2014.
Earl was a member of the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids, Iowa and was a member of the Farm Bureau. Family was the most important thing to Earl. He especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Earl was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law Sandy Olesen; his grandson Christopher Tibben; his parents; his brothers and sisters Harry Olesen, Jr. and his wife Evelyn, Howard Olesen, Ramona and husband Charles Richardson, William and wife Barbara Olesen, Robert and wife Jerri Olesen, and Jens Olesen; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Evelyn Olesen, an infant Nancy Lee Long, Paul and wife Gladys Long, Howard and wife Rose Long, Melvin Long, and Clayton Long.
Survivors include his wife Jessie Olesen of Exira, Iowa; his son Dennis Olesen of Audubon, Iowa; his grandchildren Matt and wife Melanie Olesen of Harlan, Iowa, Sarah and husband Stephen Asmus of Audubon, Iowa, Jennifer and husband Kevin Erb of Manning, Iowa, Carrie and husband Michael Bauer of Audubon, Iowa, Nicole and husband James Brown of Exira, Iowa, and Seth and wife Luka Olesen of Audubon, Iowa; 23 great grandchildren; his brothers and sisters Naomi Golay, Eunice Herron, and Claribel and husband Merlin Sievers all of Coon Rapids, Iowa, Mary Ann Olson of Vail, Iowa, and Max and wife Karen Olesen of Coon Rapids, Iowa; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Helen Monthei of Audubon, Iowa, Maurice and wife Angie Long of Coon Rapids, Iowa, Joan Strautman of Carroll, Iowa, Ann Long of Lynchburg, Tennessee; nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Ben Ramirez on Wednesday, January 20, 2016, at 11:00 A.M. at the First Christian Church in Coon Rapids, Iowa. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa. The honorary casket bearers will be Matt Olesen, Seth Olesen, Robert Clark, Laverne (Bub) Deist, and Maurice Long. The casket bearers will be Kevin Erb, James Brown, Stephen Asmus, Michael Bauer, Eric Clark, Dilan Olesen, and Tom Sievers. The family will meet with friends on Tuesday evening January 19, 2016, at 5:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa