Louis John Olson

Lou Olson, former aerospace manufacturing executive, WWII veteran, and devoted husband and father passed away at his home in Palos Verdes on December 26 surrounded by his family. He persevered through his illnesses to spend one more Christmas day with his family.

Lou was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 2, 1926 and grew up as a boy along the banks of the Mississippi River. He was one of nine children of Earnest Hjalmer and Mary Barbara (Pince) Olson. In his early life he enjoyed hunting and fishing in the Minnesota woods. He attended St. Paul Vocational School and was trained as a machinist. In 1943 at the age of 17 Lou enlisted in the US Navy and was sent to the Pacific during WWII. He served as a radio man on the USS Mount Olympus participating in the invasions of several enemy-held islands including New Guinea and the Philippines. He rose to the rank of Petty Officer Second Class and was in Tokyo Bay during the signing of the Japanese surrender. After the war he returned to St. Paul to work for a short period as a brick mason with his uncles. In the early 1950s Lou moved to Long Beach, California where he met and married Vivian June Wright a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital.

He worked for a period of time as machinist at the Naval Ship Yards in Long Beach and the Boeing Aircraft Company in Seattle. After working in the Los Angeles area for several years as a manager for other machine shop owners, Lou and two other partners started Dasco Engineering Corporation in the early 1960s. Dasco Engineering was located in Torrance, CA and specialized in the manufacturing of structural parts for major aircraft companies. The firm grew in size to eventually employ many employees and manufacture parts for numerous military and commercial aircraft programs, including NASA's lunar landing program.

As Vice President of plant operations Lou managed the firm for over 30 years and had a tremendous mechanical ability and was well liked by his many employees. Dasco Engineering is now owned and managed by three of Lou's children and employs over 100 employees at two plant locations.

Lou and his wife June lived for many years in Torrance and raised five children: Mark, Lisa, Gail, Ward, and Glen. Lou enjoyed taking the family on many camping and backpacking trips to the desert and Sierra Nevada Mountains. After retiring Lou and June lived in Palm Desert, CA and traveled frequently between the desert and their second home on a golf course in Stallion Springs, CA. During these times they were often accompanied by one or more of their 15 grandchildren who they helped raise and taught to be trout fishermen. They eventually moved to Palos Verdes to be closer to their family and friends in the South Bay area. Lou is survived by his wife June, two younger sisters Barbara and Dorothy, and all of his children and grandchildren.

Lou's funeral service will be held at Green Hills Memorial Chapel on Monday, January 9 at 11:30 AM. In lieu of sending flowers please kindly make a donation to the American Heart Association.