Ardine Anne Olhausen, age 86, of Sutherland, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at the St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer, Iowa.  Her services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at the Church of Christ in Sutherland, Iowa with Rev. John Erickson ~ Officiating.
Burial will be in the Waterman Cemetery in Sutherland, Iowa
Visitation with family present will be from 9:30 A.M. to 10:45 A.M. on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at the Church of Christ in Sutherland, Iowa
The Eldridge Family Funeral Home of Paullina is in charge of arrangements.
Ardine Anne Olhausen, the daughter of Ernest August and Elsie Meta (Koch) Meyer, was born December 24, 1937 in Cherokee, IA. She grew up on the family farm just outside of Calumet, IA and graduated from Calumet High School in 1956. Following high school, she worked on the farm with her dad and beginning in 1958, was employed at Security State Bank in Sutherland. Ardine married Robert Fay Olhausen of Sutherland in a small ceremony in Worthington, MN on December 9, 1960.
Ardine and Bob became the parents of three children – Cynthia in 1962, Nancy in 1964 and Dennis in 1968. Shortly after having their first child, Ardine became a stay-at-home mom. In the mid-1970’s, Bob and Ardine started Bob’s Tire Service, located at their residence along Highway 10 in Sutherland. Ardine became the bookkeeper, answered the phone and minded the shop when Bob was out on service calls, and made trips to Cherokee and Spencer for parts. Because Bob was an avid fisherman, Ardine spent much time in a boat or on a lakeshore fishing, or sometimes just reading as Bob fished. She enjoyed family vacations to resorts in Minnesota. She was a meticulous seamstress and made many clothes and doll clothes for her daughters, as well as many dresses for her mother-in-law. She also was a wonderful cook and will be remembered for her homemade buns, fresh out of the oven, when her kids came home from school. For several years, Ardine baked an apple pie to be sold at the annual church pie auction. Her pies always raised a lot of money, and she was proud that her last pie sold for $800. Becoming a grandmother was a joyful part of Ardine’s life. She spent a lot of time with her seven grandchildren and loved them all so much. As the great-grandchildren came along, she enjoyed funny little jokes with them as they hid toys in her refrigerator and nicknamed her “Grandma Hot Dog”. Ardine was baptized at the Sutherland Church of Christ on February 7, 1965. She served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the church’s Sunday School for more than 45 years. She was an active member of the church until health concerns began to keep her home in 2020.
Bob passed away in May of 2010, and Ardine remained in the family home until January of 2023, when she moved to St Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer. Ardine passed away on August 14, 2024 at the age of 86.
Ardine was preceded in death by her husband; parents; parents-in-law, Everett and Mona Olhausen; sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Orlin Schmith; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Keith and Norma Olhausen; Jim and Monique Olhausen; Linda Olhausen; and Marlene Olhausen; two nephews and one niece.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Cindy and John Barnes of Sutherland, IA; Nancy and Randy Plagman of Sheldon, IA; Denny and LeAnn Olhausen of Alta, IA; grandchildren Elizabeth and John Spray; Megan and Chad Berger; Kelsey and Allen Oetken; Shaylee and Carl Christiansen; Colton and Hannah Barnes; Morgan Olhausen; Levi Olhausen; great-grandchildren Joshua, Owen and Emmett Spray; Hudson and Harper Berger; Olivia, Henry, Eleanor and Svet Oetken; Gracyn, Reagyn and Gideon Christiansen; Augustus and Sullivan Barnes; brother-in-law, Lyle Olhausen; nephews, nieces and friends.