Mrs. Dorothy Olson

We said goodbye to an angel shortly after midnight on January 29, 2021. Throughout her 92 years on Earth, Dorothy June (Johnson) Olson earned her wings and several spares. Our loss is Heaven’s gain. She is once again reunited with her husband, Gus Olson, of 60 years, along with too many friends and family to name. She leaves behind: daughter Cynthia Olson Mattern and her children: Vincent and Carley (fiance Matthew Graziano) Mattern; daughter Susan (Brian) Gajewski and their children: Brittany and Alex; daughter Sally (Matthew) Schumacher; son John (proud cat daddy to Portabella); daughter Peggy (Scott) Stepanski and their children: Mason and Madelyn; sister-in-law Betty Jane (Olson) Pearson; nieces: Julie and Kaye; nephews: Mikey, Paul, Billy, Robert, Ronnie and Glen; and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

Mom was a soft-spoken, gentle soul who lovingly raised 5 kids on a tight budget. She was an excellent cook, baker and gardener. For what she couldn’t provide materially, she more than compensated by showering us with compassion, patience, kindness and understanding. She led by example and was a woman ahead of her time. Mom recycled everyday items and taught us how important it was to conserve natural resources decades before the masses caught on. Nutrition was also one of her priorities. We’d usually make at least one trip a month to a health food store. Our school lunches that she packed for us intrigued a lot of our classmates who had never seen whole wheat bread. We will always be guided by the morals & values she instilled in us.

One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandchildren, who held a special place in her heart. She just loved children and would always light up in the presence of them (even pregnant women).

Prior to her most important roles as wife and mother, she worked retail in Escanaba. Dorothy also was a telephone operator both in Michigan and Wisconsin for a phone company currently known as AT&T. During her empty nest phase in life, she enrolled in classes at NWTC and started working for the Brown County Commission on Aging until retiring in her 70s.

The family will be forever indebted to our sisters, Peggy & Sue, and brother-in-law, Brian. Sue & Brian selflessly invited Mom into their home for the last 5 months of her life. Peggy visited her several times a week to supplement Hospice care. Peggy’s medical knowledge and skills from her OT experience proved invaluable. We’d also like to extend our sincere gratitude for the following medical professionals who cared for Mom during her cancer treatment and apologize for those we’ve erroneously overlooked: Ashley, Peggy, Nicole, Kristen, Judy, Lorraine, Jenna and Karen.

It’s so hard to let you go, but we are comforted in knowing that you are no longer suffering. Thanks for everything, Mom. We truly hope you realize how much you were admired by us, and we will always love you.

Mom chose not to have a funeral or celebration of life; she never wanted anyone to make a fuss or go out of their way on her behalf. In lieu of flowers, cards, donations, etc., please honor this incredible lady by doing a good deed for a complete stranger (doing so anonymously earns you extra points)!