Joseph W. Olman

Joseph W. Olman age 98 of Maumee, Ohio passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Genacross Wolf Creek Care Center. Joe was born in Amboy Township, OH on February 5, 1925, to Joseph and Laura (Morse) Olman.

Joe grew up in Metamora, OH and once said growing up in a small town gave him the basics needed in life which were honesty, loyalty, being productive and a tremendous love for people which led to many friendships throughout his life.

Joe went into the U.S. Army in June of 1943. He was shipped to Oahu, HI for a while until the invasion of the islands. He went to Kwajalein Island for the preparation for the invasion of Okinawa and was a radio operator until the end of the war. He was discharged in 1946 and married the love of his life, Rita on March 2, 1946.

In 1957, Joe and Rita started working part-time at State Farm to start a new agency from the ground up. He wrote his first policy for a friend. Over time, after hard work and dedication, the agency grew into a successful business with 1000’s of customers. Joe became a multi year member of the Million Dollar Life Insurance Club. As a reward the company paid for Joe and Rita’s travel all over the world that allowed them to create beautiful memories.

In 1969 Joe was elected to the Maumee City Council where he would serve two terms. He disliked politics but loved serving the community.

In life Joe wore many hats and answered to many names (Pop, Dad, Joe W., Joewayne, The King, and most recently Grampa Joe. Joe retired from State Farm at age 77 in 2002. He missed the daily interaction with his customers who became like family. The love of his life, Rita, died in 2007. He was lost and depressed when one day in 2008 he came to the realization that he could not change the past and wasn’t going to allow it to devour him. It was at that moment at age 82 that he decided to reinvent himself and become Grandpa Joe. He loved people and especially young people. He began going out every evening to a different bar/restaurant to meet people. Dad would walk into a room and immediately everyone became his friend. He would sit next to a stranger and immediately introduce himself and say “I’m Grandpa Joe, what’s your name and what’s your story”. Another friend was made because he was a great listener and was a wise counselor.

Soon Joe had a 1000 business cards made up which said:

Joe W. Olman

Retired from work but not from life

A.K.A Grandpa Joe

Wherever there are young people

you will find me

Joe set up a Facebook page for Grandpa Joe and he would announce when and where he’d go that evening for dinner and a beer. As a side note he seldom finished the entire beer. We were told by bar/restaurant proprietors that they would reserve a table for him whenever he announced he was coming because his presence always gave a boost to their business. Fans of Grandpa Joe would show up to be lifted up by his words of wisdom. Finally, at age 95 Joe had to stop going out every night because of his loss of mobility. Finally, at age 96 Joe could no longer stay at his Maumee home and moved into Wolf Creek Nursing Care where he remained until his death. He received outstanding care at Wolf Creek and the staff loved him because he woke up every day with a smile and a positive outlook on life. He was inspiring to the end.

Surviving are his children, Lynn (Joyce), Ronald (Vykki), Kent (Sue), Kevin (April), Kim (Jean) and Lisa (Bob). Also surviving are 15 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Rita in 2007 and son, Kurt in 1984; siblings, Wanald, Lawrence, Doyle and Shirley. Joe will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, insurance agent and a friend to many. He will be dearly missed but his memory will live on.

Family and friends will be received at the Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, 501 Conant St., Maumee on Friday, February 24, 2023, from 3:00-8:00 PM. The Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 10:30 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 104 W. Broadway St., Maumee. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, St. Joseph Catholic Church, or Genacross Wolf Creek. Online condolences may be shared at walkerfuneralhomes.com