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In memoriam: Howard S. Olson (1922-2010)
Howard S. Olson, beloved pastor, missionary, author, music ethnologist, hymnologist died on July 1, 2010, in the care of hospice at Sun City Center, Florida. Funeral services were held on July 12, 2010, at 10:00 AM at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sun City Center, Florida.
Pastor Olson was born July 18, 1922. He received his BA from Gustavus Adolphus College, St Peter, MN and his MDiv from Augustana Seminary, Rock Island, IL. He was ordained in 1946. He received his PhD from Hartford Seminary in 1965. Dr. Olson was the recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Letters from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1970 and Distinguished Alumnus from LSTC and Hartford Seminary.
The greater part of Pastor Olson’s ministry was spent as missionary pastor and professor in Tanzania from 1946-1988. He also served as visiting professor at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Wartburg Seminary and in Tanzania. He and his wife, Louise, retired to Sun City Center, Florida in 1991.
Included in his extensive writings are six editions of a Swahili hymnal and the first and only text for teaching Greek in Swahili. His African ethnic hymns have been published by GIA in Singing Our Faith and Hymns for the Gospels. Augsburg Fortress published Set Free, a book of 35 hymns of African origin, in 1993. His hymns can be found in many ELCA hymnals, This Far By Faith, With One Voice, and Evangelical Lutheran Worship. His best know hymns are Listen, God is Calling (ELW 513), Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading (ELW 401) and Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia (ELW 364).
Pastor Olson is survived by his wife, Louise, and four children, Howard, Sharon, Timothy, and Linda.
Click here to view the article on Olson's life as a missionary published in the St. Petersburg Times.
