A mass of Christian burial for Wilfred (Bill) Olinger of Albert Lea will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Theodore Catholic Church. The Rev. James Berning and Deacon Mike Ellis will officiate. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 until 7 p.m. at St. Theodore Catholic Church and one hour prior to the service at the church. There will be a scripture prayer service at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening. Interment will be in St Theodore Catholic Cemetery. Military honors will be accorded by Albert Lea Area veterans groups.
Bill died Saturday, May 1, 2010, at his home in Albert Lea. He was 81 years of age.
Bill was born Sept. 30, 1928, in Emery, S.D., the son of Edward and Mary (Schiltz) Olinger. On Aug. 18, 1953, he was united in marriage to Irene Bartscher at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Farmer, S.D.
Bill proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 until 1954. He was a master electrician in South Dakota and Minnesota for many years until he moved his family to Albert Lea, to begin his teaching career. He taught electrical construction at the vocational technical college in Albert Lea for 20 years, training many local electricians. After he retired from teaching, he was a Minnesota state electrical inspector. He was a member of the American Legion, Elks Club and the Knights of Columbus.
Bill was a devoted husband and father. He loved spending time with his family, playing cribbage with his grandsons, watching Twins games and attending his grandchildren’s school events. He was very proud of all of his children and grandchildren. Bill enjoyed woodworking, fishing and renovating houses in the Albert Lea area working along side of his best partner, his wife Irene. Bill was a man of deep and devoted faith. He will be sadly missed.
He is survived by his wife, Irene; children: Bonnie (Roger) Erickson of Austin, Ronald (Peggy) Olinger of St. Joseph, Mo., Janet (Robert) Hartman of Albert Lea, Terry (Paula) Olinger of Great Falls, Mont., Sharon (Dave) Harris of La Crosse, Wis., Jodi (Clay) Eschrich of Prior Lake, Patti (Dennis) Trabing of Prior Lake, Kristi (Steven) Kreun of Albert Lea; and daughter-in-law, Cindy Oquist of Monticello. He is also survived by 29 grandchildren: Brooke (Ryan) Jordan, Alex and Katie Erickson, Christopher (Nicole) Olinger, Michael (Jamie) Olinger, Sarah (Kurt) Albin, Bob, Amie, Ryan and Ted Hartman, Stacey, Jessica and Daniel Olinger, Ben and Lauren Harris, Adam (Lyndsi), Jacob (Samantha) and DeDe Olinger, Emily, Alyssa and Maggie Eschrich, Erica, Drew and Sonnie Trabing, Steven, Jonathan, William, Joseph and Timothy Kreun. Great- grandchildren include: Olyvia, Avery and Jackson Olinger. He is also survived by his sisters: Rose Tammen, Sister Dorothy Olinger, OSB, and Irma Helgeland; one brother, Ray Olinger; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Bill was preceded in death by his beloved son, Timothy Olinger; his parents; his brothers: Joseph and Anthony; and one sister, Margaret.
Memorials are preferred to St. Theodore Catholic School.