Ellie (McCleer) Olsen

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ELEANOR RUTH “ELLIE” OLSEN, age 96, of Kendallville, died on Monday, June 15, 2015 at Sacred Heart Home in Avilla.  Mrs. Olsen was born in Berkeley, California on September 4, 1918 to Henry and Emily Grace (Sutcliffe) McCleer.
She graduated from Berkeley High School in 1936 and University of California-Berkeley in 1940 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science.  She married H. Richard “Dick” Olsen on June 27, 1942 in Berkeley, California.  Dick preceded her in death Febuary 28, 2007.  Ellie was the head librarian with Kendallville Public Library from 1978-1987.  She was a member of and volunteer with the McCray Hospital Auxillary.  She also volunteered at the Mid-America Windmill Museum.

Survivors include: 
Daughter, Donna and Howard Rines of Shoreview, Minnesota.
Son, Don and Becky Olsen of Fort Wayne.
Daughter, Carolyn and Joe Stephenson of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Son, Stephen and Romia Olsen of North Manchester.
Eight grandchildren: David and Olga Rines of McLean, Virginia; Deborah and Tom Thornquist of Blaine, Minnesota; Kenneth and Kirstine Rines of Mukilteo, Washington; Amy and Jeff Tapp of Fort Wayne; Jeremy Olsen of Carmel; Jennifer Olsen and her fiance,  Steve Switzer of Kokomo; Samuel and Cari Olsen of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Katie and Zach Vawter of North Manchester.  13 great grandchildren.

She was also preceded in death by her son, Douglas Olsen, who died July 11, 2011; sisters, Margaret Walker and Dorothy Lowe; and brother, Robert McCleer.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 18, 2015 from 4:00-7:00pm at Hite Funeral Home in Kendallville.

Funeral services will be Friday, June 19, 2015 at 11:00am at Hite Funeral Home.

Officiating the funeral service will be Tom Novy.

Burial will be at Lake View Cemetery in Kendallville.

Memorial donations may be made to Mid America Windmill Museum, Multiple Sclerosis Association, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (Team Olsen), 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266.

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Arrangements have been entrusted to Hite Funeral Home, 403 South Main Street, Kendallville, Indiana.

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