Geraldine Elizabeth (McKinstry) Olin was born on June 23, 1936 to Warren and Elsie (Wendt) McKinstry at their home near Turtle Lake, Wisconsin.
She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith. She grew up in the Amery area, graduated from Amery High School and went on to get her teaching certification at the Polk County Normal School in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin in 1956. Gerry taught in the 1st-8th grade country schools for a few years, growing close to the students and their families.

Gerry married John Olin on August 16, 1959 at the Little Brown Church in Nashau, Iowa and to this union four children were born: Scott, Mavis, Jeff and Kathy. The family share farmed until 1970 when they purchased the farm near Balsam Lake. Gerry was a hard working farm wife. She wheeled many wheelbarrows of silage, carried many pails of milk to feed calves, helping with chores, running the farm and raising the family. She always had a large garden to plant, harvest and preserve. Neighbors at the kitchen table for coffee or mealtime was common.

Gerry enjoyed having family and neighborhood gatherings and making large batches of homemade baked beans and scalloped potatoes. Christmas time meant baskets of fruit and homemade goodies delivered to all of the neighbors. Gerry was involved with the Balsam Lake Evergreens 4-H and the local farmers union group. She was proud of her grandchildren and enjoyed taking them on outings to picnics at the river, go carting and taking them out to eat.
Gerry moved into an apartment in Balsam Lake in 2007 and with declining health into Willow Ridge Nursing home in 2017.

Gerry is preceded in death by her husband, John; daughter, Mavis and sister, Joanne. Missing her is Scott Olin of St. Francis; Jeff and Melissa Olin of Balsam Lake, Kathy and Scott Berglund of Amery; sister, Carol Olson and nephew Jim Olson; Grandchildren, Danny and Stacey Wilson, Amanda and Tony Borresen, Nathan and Miranda Olin, Nick and Ashley Berglund, Adam Berglund and Mark Berglund; Great-grandchildren, Emily and Allison Gross, Austin and Grayson Borresen, Zane and Max Olin; Special to her, Elizabeth, Brittany and Manuel Calero.

Private Family Services will be held at the Balsam Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.