Donald G. Olson

May 23, 1943 - January 11, 2013 Donald G. Olson May 23, 1943 - January 11, 2013 Donald G. Olson, 69, of Frederick, Co died on January 11, 2013 He was born May 23, 1943 to Gerhardt and Sylvia Olson in Denver, Co He is survived by his wife Audrey and his 3 children and 6 grandchildren. Daughter Laurel and husband Jim, Daughter Tia and Mike, Son Scott and wife Mindy Grandsons Joey, Connor (wife Luisa) and Ben Granddaughters Katie, Arin and Madelyn Also survived by his sisters Shirley, Elaine (husband Woody) and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. The family invites you to an open house, in his honor, at our home, 5808 W. Conservation Dr., Frederick, CO 80504 on Saturday, January 19, 2013 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm In lieu of flowers please make donations in Don's name to National Jewish Hospital. A Letter to Don.... Don/Dad How do you summarize ones entire life into a short few minutes when their life was so full? A son, brother, grandson, uncle, husband, father, and grandfather. Our dad was never one to sit still or in his own crude words “to lie around like a maggot.” He was a man on a mission, no matter how small. He was never one to go to bed early or to sleep late. I guess I should say to actually not sleep much at all. He was born into a very conservative family in North Denver. The baby brother to two older sisters, Shirley and Elaine, and a mama's boy (though he would never admit it). According to my aunts, he was mischievous, a real pill, always got away with everything. That obviously never changed throughout his life except for the fact that sometimes he didn't always get away from the ugly consequences.( does anyone here remember driving a golf cart into a LasVegas swimming pool ?). Dad was a rebel. He attended North Denver High School and graduated from there in 1961. The stories except for a select few were never privy to his children's ears. He always lived by the motto “Do as I say, not as I did!” And the big one “Rule #1 ��" I am always right! Rule #2- If I am ever wrong, refer to Rule #1!! I guess for the most part all of us followed most of the rules. He thought he was a lenient parent, giving us the chance to figure out life by our own mistakes but, he did it in a very sly way. Tia I would ask “What time should we be home?” He would reply, “Use your own good judgment” We would be close to out of the door in a bold voice would be “but, if I were you I would be home by midnight.” So he did let us use our own judgment but, on his terms. Typical, of him. Scott, how, do I explain dad Scott? Scott made dad very proud not only by his intelligence, attending the School of Mines, being his star athlete at the lake, but, also the way Scott sewed his oats while he was president of his fraternity in college. I guess in a way dad lived his life a lot through Scott. He was, is a very good dad. He always tried to give us what he didn't have as a child and did a pretty darn good job of it. He had the privilege to marry two wonderful women. Kathy Audrey. Dad married Kathy in 1964 and soon after along came me and my brother Scott. He was blessed into this large Italian family. If you know anything about Italians once you are married, Italian or not you become “IBM, Italian by Marriage. Thus is why we are feasting on Italian sausage, peppers Grandma Rosie's spaghetti sauce today. They were married for 10 years, good times and bad. Even after their divorce they remained friends I think mostly for Scott my part, maybe not, maybe because THEY were Friends. Dad married Audrey, Tia's mom in 1977. Unfortunately, for Audrey, dad was a man that always wanted to go, go, go. He was always seeking out the next adventure. God bless her she loved him, loves him, and tolerated every obstacle he gave her, always standing her ground with a smile. They had wonderful adventures together, trips to Spain, Egypt, Yellowstone and many other wonderful places. Even the infamous cruise to the Bahamas, with the kids from hell. (Don't let them fool you they loved every bit of our adventures on that cruise!) They have been married for a good 35 years, through good and bad. Audrey has given him her heart and soul, especially for the past year. She has cared for this man non-stop without a complaint in the world. I guess that is really what love is. Dad welcomed my husband Jim, Scott's wife Mindy, and Tia's husband Mike into our family with open arms. He always stressed the fact to them that were just not in-laws but, his own kids. It was important for them to know that they were his kids just as much as anyone of us. He held or I should say holds them with high regard. Dad was blessed with 6 beautiful grandchildren. Joseph, Connor, Arin, Katherine, Benjamin, Madelyn. He finds pride in each and every one of them. Joey is fortunate, the first born grandson very spoiled. He was born 12 1/2 weeks premature because of a direct blood transfusion from grandpa to him he lives with us today. He taught his grandson the meaning of hard work and to be the best that you can be. “Gotta Shell sheds ya know.” Yes, from the time Joey could walk talk he was selling sheds with grandpa, leaving little time for anyone else. He now works at Hazen Lab. He started out doing core samples but, due to his hard work ethic and dependability (wonder who taught him that?) he was moved to the mineralogy lab with all of the engineers. Grandpa left Joey with the parting words to go for the gusto, be happy, and live life to the fullest. Grandpa gave Joey the blood of life stressed to Joey that through him, his grandpa's life goes on. Connor is our rebel without a cause. Wavering, in a place between being a boy and a man. A lot like his grandpa, he likes being a grown up, but, it is oh so much more fun being a boy. He spent a year living with grandma grandpa with some ups downs. Grandpa was a tough one but, through time, Connor made his way out on his own has found himself a successful in a job with Harley Davidson building customizing bikes. Motorcycles have always been his passion and grandpa loved bragging about Connor in his younger years when he raced dirt bikes. These are the memories that Connor needs to hold close to his heart. He is making his way as a man for that grandpa was and is so very proud. Arin is the bubbly, silly girl always out to please. The word NO has never been in her vocabulary. Always ready to lend a helping hand. Grandpa was happy boasting about how Arin would drive him to run errands what a good driver she is. For him to say that means she is either a pretty good driver or she drives like him because he complains about the rest of us. She is graduating this year and already has her life planned out. She is attending trade school for a license in cosmetology in order to help pay for her college. One very independent young lady. She plans on going into psychology. She doesn't know this yet but, she has the love for animals like grandpa Aunt Laurie so she will probably end up becoming a vet. Any where her life leads her she can always hold her head high and know that she strives to be the best that she can be. Grandpa would expect nothing less. Katherine or Red, as grandpa calls her now is a very strong willed, hard headed young lady that knows what she wants come hell or high water is going to get it. Out of all of the grandkids there could not be one more like him, strong willed, on a mission, and always with more candles burning at both ends than she can keep up with but, in some way she manages. She is a junior in high school, in the Arts Humanities program, is in a competition Choir and Dance Choir, as well as, AP courses. She is also working at Wooden Shoe. As busy as she keeps herself she always would manage to get in those few feuding card games with grandpa and fight, oh how they could fight over grandpa cheating because he hates to lose. She is a go getter, loves the arts and children. Whether she becomes a famous singer, teacher, or hey, maybe a music teacher she can be proud know that grandpa was the one that taught her the drive and commitment to be whatever she wants to be. Benjamin is the quiet, smart one. Grandpa would like to say he is his carbon copy but, we all know he is a mini Scott. Ben is in junior high this year and is in the gifted and talented program. Advanced courses all the way around and he is still bored. Can you say genius? He would never boast or brag about himself and is very humble but, grandpa sure liked to brag about Ben. Grandpa was entranced by the conversations that he and Ben would have about the different programs that Ben would want to do on his computer and I think that Ben's intelligence amazed him. Ben will go far in this life and he can hold the memories of those deep conversations that he and grandpa had close to his heart, maybe one of those conversations may trigger a light bulb to the path of where he is going. No matter what Ben does he should always know how very amazing grandpa thinks he was. Last, oh by no means least is the infamous Madelyn. The big, blued eyed baby of the bunch. Or as grandpa calls her “the BB in a boxcar or The Energizer Bunny”. She stops for nothing nor anyone. She is happy and vivacious. She is in grade school and belongs to a competitive dance crew. She has dance practice 4-5 times per week and weekend competitions. A very busy little bee. Don't think she stops there though. When she is with grandpa she is still whirling, twirling, doing cartwheels around him. I am sure that in that respect she reminds grandpa of himself with energy to burn. He was always full of so much energy and would stop for nothing. Madelyn will be a non-stop go getter like her grandpa. That comes down to Scott, Tia, and me. Scott is the Head CEO to a major environmental company, Tia is in medical working in post op surgery with patients, and as for myself I teach special education in an elementary school. We are all proud of what we do and who we are but, when it comes to the end of the day it is where and who we came from that matters the most. All three of us are so very blessed to have the wonderful parents that we do. Each and every one of them have made us who we are today, who we will be tomorrow and that gift will carry on with us our own children. In life you are a son, daughter, mother, father, the list goes on but, those are just titles. What matters most is not the title but, how you influenced, taught, respected, and loved those in your life. Those are the qualities that are passed and carried on to the future generations. The difference to all of those that you have touched throughout your life, family, friends, acquaintances and strangers. That is your LEGACY. With that being said, we raise our glass to a very strong loved man that has touched so many people in his life. A Salute` Dad. You will always be in our hearts.