Harold Gunnar Olson passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on February 21, 2018. Harold was born December 6, 1923, in Commack, Long Island, New York, the sixth child of Swedish immigrants Per Andrew Olson and Sigrid Lindberg Olson. He was raised in Brooklyn, New York, until age 12 when the family relocated to Dorothy, Weymouth Township, New Jersey. There the family established a poultry and cucumber farm that sustained them through the Depression years of the 1930s. Harold attended Egg Harbor High School. In 1942 at age 19, he joined the US Navy where he served as an aerial turret gunner in the TBM Avenger aircraft. Later in the war he was reassigned to Wildwood Naval Air Station as an aircraft mechanic and crew chief on a variety of aircraft. In 1944, he married his childhood sweetheart and neighbor Corinne Frances Post. Following his discharge from the Navy after the war, they began and built a poultry farm in Estell Manor. They farmed continuously for 20 years until the regional industry declined. Harold and Corinne were active in the community. Harold served two terms on the Estell Manor City Council, 1951-56, and was succeeded on the Council by his brother Elmer Olsen. Harold also worked as a machinist for Automotive Parts and Pagano Brothers in Vineland. He was an expert machinist in engine rebuilding and fabrication of parts. He managed the machine shop at Pagano Brothers for 20 years and retired in 1987. In retirement, he continued to do machine work on antique auto engines and specialty work. His favorite activities were water skiing on the Tuckahoe River, rebuilding and restoring to life old bulldozers, and towing the grandkids around the farm in wagons or on sleds behind his John Deere tractor. He was a kind and loving father and grandfather who was always willing to help a friend or neighbor. Harold is predeceased by the love of his life and wife of 69 years Corinne and their son Glenn. He is survived by six children and their spouses: Harold and Jane Olson, Judy and Brian Olesen, Jim and Karel Olson, Allen Olson, Linda and Ron Janney, and Joy Smith. He had 16 grandchildren: Keri, Bryan, Karel Ann, Audra, Nathan, Kim, Ron, Jim, Ryan, Randy, Katie, Rory, Eric, Richard, Shane, and Cody, as well as 17 great-grandchildren. Private services are being conducted by Langley-Loveland Funeral Home, Tuckahoe. Interment will be at the Head-of the-River Cemetery in Estell Manor. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.LangleyLovelandFuneralHome.com.

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