Arla Mae Olson

Arla Mae Olson, 85, of Mesa, AZ, formerly of Moline, passed away, Saturday, January 30, 2021 in Arizona.

Private family services will be held at a later time.  Burial will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline.  Memorials may be made in her name to Calvary Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, Moline.  Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline is assisting the family.

Arla was born on July 26, 1935, in Arenzville, IL, the daughter of Arley Marshall and Ruby Imogene (Monroe) Cooper.  She married Phillip Stephen Olson on August 21, 1956, at Calvary Lutheran Church, Moline.  He preceded her in death on May 31, 2007.  Arla worked in Personnel and then Resource Management for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Arla was a kind and generous mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister.  Her grandchildren have endless fond memories of time spent with her doing art projects and playing dominos.  She was extremely creative, trained as a portrait painter in Chicago, and worked in oils, charcoal, and pastels. Arla was dedicated to her church, sang in the choir, and served as Treasurer for many years after retirement.  She loved to travel, visit her son and his family in Florida, and hike and golf in Arizona.  She enjoyed singing with the choir for the Augustana Christmas performance of The Messiah.  She loved her friends and her yoga gals.  Arla was a caregiver in the purest sense of the word, and loved her sisters and brother, unreservedly.

Survivors include her children, Andrew (Teresa) Olson, Moline, Timothy (Susanne) Olson, Seminole, FL, Heidi (Todd) Woeber, Bettendorf, IA; grandchildren, Matthew, Lindsey, Daniel, Rachel, Samuel, and Benjamin; great grandchildren, Alyssa, Braden, and Brycen.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and brother, Steven.

Memories may be shared online by visiting the tribute wall.