<< Back

Diane K. Olson
01/07/2025

Diane Kathryn Olson, 85, of Euless, TX passed away on January 7, 2025 after a courageous two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. At the time of her death, she was residing with her daughter and son-in-law Sara and Brett Fadem in Orefield, PA. For several years prior to her recent move to Pennsylvania, she was cared for by her son and daughter-in-law, John and Holly Quinn of Euless, TX. 

Diane was born August 7, 1939 in Wasika, MN to Agnes (née Grubner) and Elmer Lund. After the passing of her mother, Diane lived in a Catholic orphanage for two years. In 1947 She and her two brothers were adopted by Florence and Henry Oberhauser of LaPorte City, IA. Diane was adored by everyone who had the good fortune of meeting her. She was known for her kindness, compassion, generosity, knowledge, wit, and curiosity about the world around her. 

She loved crossword puzzles and read voraciously. A gifted seamstress, she could do just about any kind of needlecraft imaginable. As her eyesight failed, she listened to audiobooks. Not long before she died, she shared that her mother, Florence, who had been a teacher, taught her dad to read using adventure and western novels by Zane Grey and others. Diane discovered this treasure trove of books in the rafters of her home when she was a child, and would sneak away to read them over and over again. She often said books were her salvation. 

Diane dealt with a tremendous amount of adversity throughout her life but was somehow able to transcend the heartbreak and carry on. She spent countless hours helping others to do the same. Those who knew her well will recognize her advice to, “stop worrying; it will work out” and that, “this too shall pass.”

Whenever Diane had something that someone else needed more, she would share it. A story she rarely told because she knew many would judge her as irrational for giving away what little she had illustrates the kind of person she was: Diane returned to college at the University of Northern Iowa to study anthropology as a 42 year old single mother in 1981. There, she met a distraught graduate student from Uganda. Civil war had broken out in her home country where her three young sons were still living. Diane used a large portion of money that was earmarked for her education to bring Lorna’s boys to the United States where they were safe from war and starvation. Diane never finished her degree, and her house was repossessed in part because of this act of generosity, but she felt no regret for saving the lives of those three boys. 

She was stoic; about four days before her death, when she was in extreme discomfort and could barely talk, her reply to a caregiver asking how she was doing was simply “real good.”

After graduating from LaPorte City High School, she attended Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She had many fond memories of summer breaks working at Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park. Upon completion of her associates degree, she married Donald (Corky) Quinn and had four children: John Quinn of Euless, TX, Mary van Rossen of Houston, TX, Tom Quinn of Fort Dodge, IA. and Sara Fadem of Orefield, PA. Her marriage to Corky ended in 1972. In 1978, she married Dale Olson who tragically died six months after they wed. 

She was a devoted mother to her four children, remembered fondly for creating whimsical and unique birthday cakes, hand-making special occasion garments and everyday clothing, and for her leadership of a Bluebird/Camp Fire Girls group (which was known in the neighborhood as being “way more fun than the Girl Scouts”). She was an enthusiastic member of the Fort Dodge Choral Society, and always looked forward to Bridge club. She taught her children to treat others as they would like to be treated and the value of turning the other cheek when people were cruel.

Working many jobs throughout her life, Diane particularly enjoyed those that directly helped others, such as coordinating for both Head Start and a senior community center. In addition to the satisfaction she derived from working one-on-one, she served her community throughout her life. Active in politics, she advocated for peace, fairness, and equity in a lopsided world.

The absolute joy in her later years came from her grandchildren and great grandchildren: April, Sophia, David, Gracie, Ellie and Chloe. Along with family previously mentioned, she leaves behind a brother, Ron Oberhauser of Soldotna, AK, son-in-law Arne vanRossen of Houston, TX, and was preceded in death by her brother, Leroy Oberhauser of LaPorte City, IA. She leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and countless other family members and friends whom she loved. 

Diane was born and died on the seventh day of the month. Spiritually, the number seven is widely considered a symbol of perfection or completeness, and is also known as being a “lucky” number. Perhaps then, in honoring the open-minded spirituality that Diane carried with her throughout her life, those who survive her can consider this coincidence a reminder that we were all lucky to have known her.

In keeping with her giving spirit, she requested a green burial. Her body will be returned to the Earth without unnecessary stress on the environment on Friday, January 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Green Meadows Burial Ground, Fountain Hill Cemetery, Bethlehem, PA. Arrangements have been made through Nicos C. Elias Funeral Home in Allentown, PA.

In lieu of flowers, consider donating to your local public library in her name, a charity like www.givedirectly.org or simply help someone you know who is in need.