Leland "Lee" J. Olkowski

Leland James Olkowski

Leland (Lee) James Olkowski, 79, of Rib Mountain, Wisconsin, was called home on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at Weston Memory Care. He was born on October 21, 1946 in Three Lakes, Wisconsin, the son of John C. Olkowski and Margaret P. Olkowski.

Lee was the second born of seven children and grew up in Three Lakes, Wisconsin. He attended college at UW-Marathon County for two years, where he met his future bride, Alice Hogan. He then transferred to UW–Madison and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Thereafter, he achieved his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. Lee had a great mind for calculating numbers.

Lee started his accounting career as an auditor for the State of Wisconsin in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He later accepted a position at Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, Wisconsin which is where his journey in health care began. Lee spent much of his career working in hospital administration, both at Victory Memorial Hospital in Stanley, Wisconsin as President and then joining Wausau Hospital (now Aspirus) as Senior Vice President of Corporate Services. Along the way, he earned his MBA through Cardinal Stritch College, all while leading development and expansion projects that brought better health care to small cities and towns much like the one he'd grown up in. He retired from Aspirus in 2011 after 24 years of service. Following his retirement, he worked part-time for Ghidorzi Construction Company of Wausau, Wisconsin for a few years. Lastly, he was a long-standing member of the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) well into retirement, as well as an elected president of the organization earlier in his career.

Lee had many interests outside of his employment and was happiest when he was working on a project. Throughout his life, he was frequently building, updating or remodeling either his home, cottage in Three Lakes, or his adult children’s homes. He especially loved building garages and built many over the years. Lee also treasured old cars. Over his lifetime, he owned several Ford Model A’s, old trucks, including an old Army troop carrier and a bulldozer he restored. Next to building garages, he was drawn to being outside. He took great pleasure in pontoon rides, as well as yardwork, snow removal, and logging. The annual deer hunt was sacred to him, less for the hunting than for the crowd it gathered; family, friends, and always far more food than even Lee could finish. He also dabbled in men’s golf leagues, was part of the Lion’s Club for many years, and appreciated his travels within the country. In his retirement years, Lee found more time to watch sports. While always a Badger and Packers fan, later he followed the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers and attended a few games with his grandchildren.

Lee is survived by his wife of 58 years, Alice (Hogan) Olkowski; his three children Mark (Jennifer) Olkowski, Daniel (Christine) Olkowski and Amy (Eric) Buchholtz; eight grandchildren Alan (Mya), Benjamin, Samuel, Raymond, Elizabeth, Nathan, Adam, and Leah, and one great grandchild Carter; six siblings John (Kathleen) Olkowski, Mary Holland, Margaret (Lou) Smith, Jean Bruss, James Olkowski, and Thomas Olkowski. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Olkowski, Sr. and Margaret Olkowski.

A funeral service for Lee will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at St. Anne Catholic Parish in Wausau, Wisconsin. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. A private burial will take place at a later date in Three Lakes, Wisconsin.

The family would like to offer their heartfelt thanks to all of Lee's caregivers at Weston Memory Care for the loving support they gave him every day this past year, and to the dedicated team of Moments Hospice for their wonderful care. It meant more than words can say, and we will remember it always.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Moments Hospice Foundation: https://momentsfoundation.org/