Dr Olin Or Doc G Wollen, 83

of Ottawa

'Doc' Wollen dies

Olin "Doc" G. Wollen, 83, Ottawa community leader, died Thursday night.

Wollen was the first person who introduced himself to his neighbor, Dan Pickert, and that neighbor will never forget all Wollen taught him.

"He was like a bit of an encyclopedia on Ottawa," Pickert said.

"He could give you insight on things and people you could not get from others, and he had some very interesting stories," he said.

"Doc" was so comfortable in this community, Pickert said, that when he went to meet his usual coffee group at 9 a.m. in Allegre's Pharmacy, 304 S. Main, he didn't even have to enter through the front door.

"He was respected enough that when he went in to Allegre's for coffee he walked into the back door," he said.

"He was the type of guy you could drop in on, pull up a chair and have a nice half hour conversation with about anything."

In 1948, Wollen began to serve optometric patients in east central Kansas for 42 years.

Retired Bud Gollier said Wollen was a lifelong friend and professional acquaintance.

He said Wollen always cared for others.

"He was always a very interested in other people," Gollier said.

Gollier said Wollen's work and help to the community were appreciated.

"His contribution to the community and his church have been very important to us all."

Wollen was involved in the community of Ottawa, serving the Boy Scouts, the Tree Board, Lions Club, the school board, Head Start, Meals on Wheels, United Methodist Men, the Franklin County Historical Society, Camp Chippewa, the Chippewa Water Board, the First United Methodist Sunshine Class, and the 9 a.m. coffee group at Allegre's Drug Store.

"The sad thing about a community is we're losing some of the great leaders in the (last few) months, Ransom Bennett and Wollen, who both put Ottawa on their list of priorities," Gollier said.

Pickert said he would miss Wollen's positive attitude.

"If I had to describe him in one word, it would be upbeat," he said.

Ottawa Herald, The (KS) - Friday, May 30, 2003

Olin Wollen (1920)