John Olson

John Michael Olson of New Richmond, Wisconsin, passed away December 8, after a long battle with cancer, at home with his wife Diane by his side.

John was born January 5, 1952 in Eau Claire, WI, to Stanley and Bernadette Olson. He was a father to daughter Vanessa Olson and son Chris Olson. After living on the east coast, he returned to Wisconsin, where he resided in the River Falls/Hudson area as a refrigeration engineer for the Shannon Group, AKA Kolpak; where he met his wife of 27 years, Diane Olson.

John's engineering skills shined personally and professionally, whether it was a project in the garage or cutting a pan of bars, appropriate measuring was always involved. After leaving Kolpak, he continued his refrigeration engineering career at Nor-Lake in Hudson, Wisconsin, where he retired in 2018.

After retirement, despite having a terminal illness, John kept busy with various projects and rarely passed up a round on the golf course.

Before moving to New Richmond, WI in 2021, John and Diane spent 17 years living the lake life on Long Lake in Centuria, WI, where he loved watching the sun come up over the lake in the morning. He enjoyed having the grandchildren come up and experience fishing, boating and just being on the water with Papa and Grandma.

Amongst the many things John enjoyed, cars and engines were his passion; especially his beloved Pontiac Fiero with a Corvette engine. He and Diane spent many years traveling to car shows to show it off and spend time with their Pontiac Fiero Club friends. In later years, he enjoyed mini adventures on the weekends with Diane.

John is survived by his wife, Diane; and children Vanessa (John Baird) Olson, Chris (Alice) Olson; stepchildren: Shannon Mitch, and Cody Trealoff; seven grandchildren, Eloise, Slaiden, Dahlia, Eve, Temperance, Silas, and Paetyn. He is preceded in death by both parents and his brother, Stanely Olson, Jr.

A celebration of life will take place at a later time.