Irene L. Olawsky

Irene was born on October 9, 1925 in Armour, South Dakota the daughter of Charles and Louisa (Hill) Crutchett. After graduating valedictorian from Armour High School in 1943, she attended and graduated from nurses training with her R.N. degreeat Methodist Hospital in Mitchell, South Dakota. On June 8, 1947, she married her high school sweetheart, Gilbert Olawsky, enjoying 63 years of wedded bliss. For three years she worked as a nurse at the Methodist Hospital and was in charge of the 3rd floor. When her children were in school, she worked as a head-start nurse for several years. A few years later, she took great pleasure working with the college students at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell as the campus nurse. Her family thoroughly enjoyed motorcycling (Irene drove her own) and camping together. Playing flute in the Mitchell orchestra, teaching Sunday school, and being active in PEO and First Lutheran circle were other activities she also enjoyed. Gilbert and Irene lived in Mitchell from 1947 until 1978 when he was transferred by Hormel to Blue Earth, MN. PEO was very dear to her heart, being an active member since 1944 and founder of both the Mitchell and Blue Earth chapters. In her retirement years, one of her great passions was genealogy as she traced her familys roots to a time before their immigration to this country. Irene is survived by her husband, Gilbert Olawsky of Blue Earth, her sons, Douglas (Suzanne) Olawsky of Webster, South Dakota, Ralph (Sue) Olawsky of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, her daughter, Peggy (Jim) Jackson of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, six grandchildren and 2 great grandsons. She was preceded in death by her parents.