Loretta “Carol” Olson of Eureka, died on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at Greenwood County Hospital, in Eureka, at the age of 86.
She was born on August 1, 1939, in Greenwood County, the daughter of Oliver Francis and Sarah Elizabeth (Moore) Wade. She attended school at Piedmont. On November 6, 1954, Carol was united in marriage to Robert Henry Olson in Eureka. To this union, four children were born. They made their home in Eureka, where Carol devoted her life to raising her family. In the 1970s, she worked in the school cafeteria, enjoying the daily connection with the local schoolchildren.
Carol found great peace in the simple beauties of nature; she possessed a deep love for bird watching, keeping her feeders meticulously filled, and took immense pride in tending to her yard. In a touching testament to their lifelong bond, Carol passed away on July 14th—the exact same calendar day that Bob preceded her in death in 2010, reuniting them after sixteen years.
Carol’s greatest pride and joy was her family. She was a constant, loving anchor for her children and embraced her role as a grandmother, great-grandmother, and greatgreat- grandmother with endless affection, leaving behind a beautiful legacy of love spanning five generations.
She is survived by her children: Chris and husband, Gary Brammer of Emporia; Loretta and husband, Tim Gulick of Eureka; Carlene and husband, Pat Nuessen of Wichita; and Wade Olson and significant other, Julie Smith of Lawrence; seven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Myrtle Becker of Lincoln, Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; her first grandson, Kurtiss Olson; and eleven siblings: Herman Francis Wade, Lyle Willis Wade, Verna Marie Agard, Roy Edwin Wade, June Elizabeth Bowen-Scott, Lela Margaret Allyn, Mildred Alice Sheehy, Alma Amelia Walford, Charles Welling Wade, Clara Hope Petty, and Harley Lloyd Wade.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Koup Family Funeral Home, in Eureka with Mr. Judd Everitt officiating. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation hours were 5 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Kansas Humane Society or to the Greenwood County Hospital Foundation. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.
