Kevin Michael Olis

Kevin Michael Olis peacefully joined the Creator at the age of 65 on September 5, 2025, in his home in DeLand, Florida. He was lovingly surrounded by his children, his mother, and his eight siblings-just as he had surrounded so many others with love throughout his life.

Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, Kevin's journey through life was one marked by creation, imagination, and deep connection. He earned his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University and a Master's degree in Education from Lewis University. He spent the last years of his life near the ocean in Florida, where he recently retired after a long, meaningful career as a high school art teacher and golf coach for Northeast High School in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Kevin was a prolific and accomplished artist, writer, and educator. Over the course of his lifetime, he created thousands of paintings and portraits, wrote five novels, illustrated numerous books, and contributed detailed medical illustrations for Waterman Florida Hospital. His personal artwork is featured in over 100 public venues, many include schools around the Chicago suburbs. He also founded "Community Creations," a collaborative art program that brought people together-students, seniors, schools, churches, hospitals, and corporations-to co-create large sculptures. For Kevin, art was not just something to be made, it was something to be shared.

His passion for art was only rivaled by his passion for people. Kevin believed in the power of creativity as a way of life. In his own words: "If we are born in the image of a creator, then maybe we are the mirror of that image when we are creating... The self is not something we find, it is something we create." He dedicated his life to helping others-children, students, seniors-ignite their creative spirit and see the world as something they could shape.

Kevin was a lifelong lover of golf and Notre Dame, and he often said, "Superman's got nothing on me." It was not bravado, but rather a reflection of his belief that we all hold superpowers-the ability to create, connect, and co-create a more beautiful world.

His creative vision, generous heart, and endless imagination will continue to live on in the countless lives he touched, the art he made, and the family who adored him.

Kevin is survived by his beloved children, Jenna Donoghue (Travis), and Jordan Olis; his grandsons, Travis, Jackson, and Dylan; and the mother of his children and best friend, Theresa Lustig. He also leaves behind his loving mother, Carole Olis, and his eight siblings: Laura Roberts (John), John Olis (Amy), Dennis Olis (Stella), Edie White (Patrick), Bryan Olis (Dana), Rob Olis (Karen), Bridget Johnson (Kirby), and Meghan Novack (Mike). His extended family, friends, students, and fellow artists will carry forward the legacy of joy, depth, and humanity that Kevin brought into every space he entered.

An Art Show celebrating Kevin's life will be held on Saturday, November 8th at the DuPage Children's Museum, in Naperville, IL beginning at 6:00pm. This museum holds the very last sculpture Kevin ever co-created and where we will gather to honor the man who taught us all to see the world not only as it is, but as it could be.