Donald Roy Olin

Donald Roy Olin, born July 6, 1942 in Tracy, Minnesota to the late Mr. and Mrs. Roy F. and Minnie L. (Stewart) Olin of Lynd, Minnesota. Don worked on the family farm and went to Lynd Public School, Lynd, Minnesota until entering the Army July 15, 1964 where he earned his general equivalency diploma. Don first went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for basic training and boot camp and received the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Expert M-14 Rifle Award. After graduating from Fort Leonard Wood he was stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas until being transferred to the Canal Zone at Fort Sherman in Panama, home to the Jungle Operations Training Center, Battery D, 5th Missile Battalion (Hawk-AW), 517th Artillery Air Defense. After finishing active duty June 30, 1966 Don returned to Lynd, Minnesota. He was honorably discharged July 14, 1970 January 1965 Don met Jacqueline Laurinda Steen in Lynd, Minnesota. They were married at the Lynd United Methodist Church January 21, 1967. They made their home close to Don’s parents in rural Lynd. September 3, 1967 Don and Jackie welcomed the birth of their first daughter, Kim Marie, followed by a second daughter, Kay Lynn, November 4, 1970. Don’s family was one the most important things in his life. In 1974 Don, his mother Minnie, Kim and Kay were baptized together at the Lynd United Methodist Church, publicly acknowledging his faith. Don was always employed with at least two jobs early in their marriage; the one constant being the family farm until 1981. Before he entered the Army, Don drove grain truck for the Lynd Grain Elevator hauling grain to Minneapolis, Minnesota. After being relieved from Army active duty he again worked for the Lynd Grain Elevator. Other jobs Don worked throughout his life were as a foreman for Appleton Silo Company, Standard Chemical and Feed as a delivery driver, Lynd Public School as a transportation, maintenance and janitorial engineer until 1977 when he began work for Johnson Leasing, Inc., as a truck driver. Don and Jackie bought this business April, 1979 where Don was a business/salesman, mechanic, and driver while Jackie took care of the daily office operations. In 1993 they sold the business and their home in Lynd and moved to Mission, Texas. Don remained active, becoming a member of Bread of Life Church in Mission, working behind the scenes being a “jack-of-all-trades, master of none”, as he called himself. It was during this time he met Brother Harry and friend, Sabas Sandovol; Don began helping build churches throughout Mexico and Guatemala. Jackie remained at his side volunteering with the other ladies, bringing love, clothing, food and necessities to the communities these churches would bless. June 11, 2000 Don was ordained into “The Gospel Ministry” as a minister through World Ministry Fellowship. In 1999 Don and Jackie went on a trip to the Holy Land with Zola Levitt. They fell in love with the country and people of Israel. While in Israel Don was able to baptize fellow Believers in the Jordan River, bringing him great joy. Don and Jackie both felt called to return to Israel for missions work. They partnered with Bridges for Peace, Melbourne, Florida. “Bridges” adopts immigrant families, helping in their relocation process by providing the necessities of life for one year. Don and Jackie raised the money needed to live in Jerusalem on two separate occasions. The first trip was for three months in 2001 and again for one year March 2004- Mach 2005. Don worked with a crew of men repairing homes the immigrants would live in. Jackie worked in the food bank helping prepare baskets of food, clothing and basic living necessities the adopted families would pick up two times per month. They loved the work, connections and relationships they developed during their times in Israel. After returning to the States, Don went right back to helping his friends, neighbors and church in whatever capacity he could, be it replacing a water heater, mowing a lawn, installing a sprinkler system, hanging a ceiling fan, shortening blinds or building a sound booth for their church. He truly was a servant, humble and never wanting recognition for the things he did. Don loved to talk and fellowship with the men from church; he helped with potluck meals by cooking, flipping burgers or pancakes and doing the dishes. Don and Jackie were the chairmen for the Prime Timers, a group of retired men and women at Bread of Life Church. They met one time a month. Jackie organized the potluck and decorations while Don found a guest speaker and made sure the meeting room was organized and prepared. In May, 2013 Don and Jackie moved from Mission to Fredericksburg, Texas. He quickly made friends and began his ministry of help. He and Jackie then attended Victory Fellowship Church where he once again used his gifts to bless others. Don’s enjoyed hunting big game in Minnesota, Texas and Wyoming; wood working, reading his daily devotional and Bible, and puttering around his workshop. One of his desires was realized when he moved to Fredericksburg; Don met some men from a radio control flying club, “The Wing-Dingers”. They helped him pick out an airplane and this began his hobby of flying. He went to the meetings, learned all he could and went with the “guys” to the “ranch”, all enjoying the hobby of flying. In August 2016 he purchased his first new plane; he was proud of it and soon made it his own, bringing his total to 4 RC airplanes. Don was working on a gas propelled plane to fly this spring. The "Wing-Dingers" raised the money for and built a landing strip for their airplanes and Don was the first to land his plane on this landing strip before leaving for his final trip to Mission. He talked fondly of this group of men and their activities. Don’s greatest passion was explaining the plan of Salvation and leading others to the saving relationship with Jesus. He considered this to be his greatest work and calling. Don absolutely loved working; he couldn’t sit idle, he needed to be working with his hands - fixing things, puttering around the workshop, walking around the neighborhood talking and making friends. There were never strangers in Don’s life, only friends he had not yet met. Don especially loved helping Kim and Kay with projects they saved especially for Dad when he visited. He will be remembered for his love, generous and humble spirit, believing the best in others and his servant’s heart. Don died unexpectedly Tuesday, April 18, 2017 in Mission, Texas. Donald Roy Olin is remembered and deeply missed by his wife of 50 years, Jackie (Fredericksburg, TX); Daughters, Kim Olin (Jackson, MN) and Kay (Corey) Bishop (Fredericksburg, TX); Grandchildren, Marriah (Jeffrey) McHott (Cheyenne, WY), Haleigh McDaniel (Rochester, MN), Andrew Olin (Jackson, MN), Timothy Vela (Fentress, TX), Kyle (Zha’Nay) Bishop (Wichita, KS), Kelsie Bishop (fiancé Zachary Miller)(Pretty Prairie, KS); Great grandchildren, El’Yona Bishop and Teagan Miller; Sisters, Murle Bloodgood (Mission, TX), Marie Blomquist (Sartell, MN); Brother Robert (Elain) (Lynd, MN), as well as nieces, nephews and cousins. He was met in Heaven by his parents, Roy and Minnie, brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Jan, brothers-in-law, Kenneth Bloodgood and Gene Blomquist, and nephew, Terry Olin. Celebration of Life service will take place on Friday, May 5th, 2017 at 12:30 pm at The Bridge Church (formerly Bread of Life Church), 2820 North Conway, Mission, TX. Interment will be at Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery, 2520 Inspiration Road, Mission, TX. You are invited to sign the online guest book at www.virgilwilsonmortuary.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Virgil Wilson Mortuary of Mission.

Donald Roy Olin

July 6, 1942 - April 18, 2017