William A. Oleson

William A. “Bill” Oleson, 86, died on December 30, 2022 at home in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was born August 17, 1936 in Sandwich, Illinois to William A. and Hazel Evelyn (Hill) Oleson. While in school he worked on family farms. During high school he worked at Norway General Store in Norway, IL, and after graduating from high school in May 1954, for a short while at Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company in Ottawa, IL before enlisting in the US Army in November 1954. While in the Army, he was assigned to Arkansas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, DC, and Afghanistan. His highest grade was SP-4, a technical NCO rank equivalent to sergeant. Upon his discharge in November 1957 he rejoined Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company in Ottawa from which he resigned in March 1962 as Safety Director to attend college full time. The day he resigned from Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company in 1962, he met Barbara Buente whom he married in Granite City, IL on June 6, 1964. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a BA in History in June 1965. The couple established their home in Washington, DC in September 1965. Bill was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency in June 1966 and served in South America, Asia, and Europe, as well as the Washington area before retiring from the CIA in January 1994. His parents, brother, one sister, and a nephew preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Amy (Tim) Baker and Anne (Will) Katz; five grandchildren, Nate, Charlotte and Hattie Baker, and Amelia and Lydia Katz. He is also survived by his sister Sherri (Bob) Parker; several nieces and nephews as well as grandnieces and grandnephews. The only eulogy that pertains is that Bill was the product of the wholesome farmlands of north-central Illinois and was raised by industrious and proud workday immigrants from Norway and Germany. All his life he knew the difference between right and wrong and lived accordingly. He missed nothing, had no regrets, and died a very proud old man. The the family's request, in lieu of flowers donations in Bill's memory may be made to St. Jude's (www.stjude.org). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.NelsenWilliamsburg.com for the Oleson family.