Ex-IGA President Dies
CHICAGO -- William E. Olsen, a former president of global voluntary supermarket alliance IGA here, passed away on April 16 after a long illness. He was 79.
Olsen joined the IGA staff office in 1969 as director of perishables, and shortly after that, was promoted to v.p. He served as IGA president from 1973 until his retirement in January 1987.
Before joining IGA, Olsen was v.p. and director of sales for meat supplier John Morrell & Co. A native of Denver, Colo., he graduated from Regis University, a Colorado college.
"We at IGA would like to express our condolences to Mr. Olsen's family, as well as our gratitude for his many years of service to our alliance," IGA said in a statement.
Memorial visitation will be held today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Meadows Funeral Home, 3615 Kirchoff Road in Rolling Meadows, Ill. Memorial mass is tomorrow at 10 a.m., at the St. Alphonsus Church, 411 N. Wheeling Road in Prospect Heights, Ill., with burial following at the Inurnment All Saints Cemetery.
Olsen was the father of Janet (John) Napoli, Karen (Ken) Stiff, David (Donna), Christina, and the late Diane Olsen; grandfather of five; and brother of the late Arnold Olsen.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation, 4709 Golf Road, Skokie, Ill., or Vitas Hospice, 580 Waters Edge Drive, Lombard.
Olsen joined the IGA staff office in 1969 as director of perishables, and shortly after that, was promoted to v.p. He served as IGA president from 1973 until his retirement in January 1987.
Before joining IGA, Olsen was v.p. and director of sales for meat supplier John Morrell & Co. A native of Denver, Colo., he graduated from Regis University, a Colorado college.
"We at IGA would like to express our condolences to Mr. Olsen's family, as well as our gratitude for his many years of service to our alliance," IGA said in a statement.
Memorial visitation will be held today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Meadows Funeral Home, 3615 Kirchoff Road in Rolling Meadows, Ill. Memorial mass is tomorrow at 10 a.m., at the St. Alphonsus Church, 411 N. Wheeling Road in Prospect Heights, Ill., with burial following at the Inurnment All Saints Cemetery.
Olsen was the father of Janet (John) Napoli, Karen (Ken) Stiff, David (Donna), Christina, and the late Diane Olsen; grandfather of five; and brother of the late Arnold Olsen.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation, 4709 Golf Road, Skokie, Ill., or Vitas Hospice, 580 Waters Edge Drive, Lombard.