Dr. William H. Olin Sr., 93, died Monday, September 18th at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) following a sudden illness.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, September 22nd at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Barrie Tritle officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 to 7 PM at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City. A luncheon will follow the funeral. Family Committal Services will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Coralville. Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Iowa MOST (www.IowaMost.org), Clubfoot Solutions (clubfootsolutions.org/make-a-donation/), First United Methodist Church (www.icfirstchurch.org), and the University of Iowa College of Dentistry.
William is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Bertha Spitters Olin and their three sons, William H. Olin Jr. of North Liberty, IA, Paul (Mary Kathryn Schrock) Olin of Minneapolis, MN, and Jon E. (Amelia Garrido) Olin of Miami, FL; Grandchildren and children of Paul and Kathy, Paul Michael and Jennifer Nicole Bynes Olin, Thomas Scott Olin and Kathryn Kelly Olin; grandchildren and children of Jon and Amelia, Mariana Garrido Olin, Nicholas William Olin, and Lucas Henry Olin; great grandson (Paul and Jennifer) Marcus William Olin.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Dr. William H. “Bill” Olin was born March 7, 1924 in Menominee, Michigan. His family moved to Marinette, Wisconsin when he was 16. Dr. Olin graduated from Marinette High in 1942.
He received his DDS degree from Marquette University in 1947, then attended the University of Iowa where he completed a residency in Orthodontics and an MS and Certificate in Orthodontics in 1948. That same year Dr. Olin was appointed as an assistant professor at UIHC. Dr. Olin’s thesis study of facial deformities among children at the Glenwood School for the mentally handicapped sparked his life-long interest in craniofacial anomalies. He founded the Division of Craniofacial Anomalies at UIHC, and over his 44-year career there achieved international acclaim for his expertise, especially in the treatment of facial deformities. Dr. Olin met his wife, Bertha, who was a registered nurse at UIHC. They were married in 1950 and their three children all attended the University of Iowa.
Over the years Dr. Olin has treated countless patients, written numerous scholarly articles, authored a pioneering textbook and contributed to many book chapters about cleft lip and palate and other facial deformities. He was invited to speak in countries across the globe including the US, Canada, Greece, Egypt, Spain, England, France, Denmark, Russia, Germany, Japan, China and in Latin America. Dr. Olin also served in the Korean War from 1952-54 as part of the US Army Medical Corps in Germany.
During his illustrious career Dr. Olin held many leadership positions in major professional organizations including as president of the Midwest Orthodontic Society, the Angle Orthodontic Society and the American Cleft Palate Association, and served on numerous local orthodontic and dental organizations, and the UI Dental College and Board in Control of Athletics.
After his retirement in 1992, Dr. Olin turned to philanthropic and charitable work with unending enthusiasm and dedication to many causes. His greatest passion was working with Operation Smile, Rotoplast and Iowa MOST (Miles of Smiles Team), all international volunteer medical missions that provide treatment for underprivileged patients with cleft lip and palate deformities in underdeveloped counties all over the world. He completed a total of 12 missions in Mexico, Colombia, Vietnam, El Salvador, the Philippines and Guatemala. Dr. Olin also supported Iowa City-based international organizations Ponseti International and Clubfoot Solutions, which are dedicated to the effective and responsible treatment of Clubfoot deformities worldwide. He was also a tireless advocate for the passage of a Helmet Law in Iowa to protect bicycle and motorcycle riders from traumatic head injuries by requiring cycle helmet use.
Dr. Olin was a dedicated community leader through his lifetime involvement in the Boy Scouts of America, the America Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, the Iowa City Rotary Club‘s Fire and Medical Supply Company — which collects and ships medical equipment from the US to developing nations – Pathways adult daycare facilities, Hancher Auditorium, and the Iowa City youth/high school football mouth guard program (which he started), and many other organizations. Dr. Olin was also active in the local business community, serving on the Board of Directors of Hills Bank & Trust Company, including as its Chairman and Chairman Emeritus.
He was among the most steadfast of Iowa Hawkeye fans, missing only a handful of home football games since his very first game – and first date with his wife, Bertha — in 1948. He loyally stood, clapped and sang out loud with the band’s every playing of “On Iowa!” and the Iowa Hawkeye Fight Song.
Dr. Bill Olin was deeply kind, caring and generous, passionately dedicated to his family and community, and uniquely talented as a dental and medical professional. Though his professional accomplishments left lasting impacts, his role as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather defined him. The time he spent with his sons and their families brought him the most joy and are his greatest legacy.
Online condolences may be sent to www.lensingfuneral.com