Thomas "Tom" Ralph Olson

Thomas “Tom” Ralph Olson peacefully passed away on Thursday, September 5th at Cedar Creek Manor in Kronenwetter, WI.  He was born in Oconto to Ralph and Esther Olson.  He was the 2nd oldest of their four children.

Tom went to St. Joseph School in Oconto and graduated from Oconto High School in 1957. Tom then joined the military after high school.  He was active duty in the Navy in the early 60s including Bay of Pigs and Shepard’s Mercury Flight aboard the recovery ship USS Lake Champlain where he served as a Naval photographer, in which pictures of his were published in National Geographic and Life magazine. Tom was then in the Reserves until 1966.

Tom then went to college and graduated from UW Oshkosh and became an Electrical Engineer working for Paper Converting and then as a contractor where he was able to choose his jobs and locations.  He lived in Cincinnati, OH where he discovered Skyline Chili and found the recipe and would make large pots and share with his family.  Another favorite in his kitchen was Norwegian scorpers which he would make (sometimes with his siblings) every year at Christmas time while he was still healthy.

Tom married Dorothy McKeever in 1965 and had three children Jeffrey Olson (Michele), Cathy Allard (Mike) and Sheri Schultz (Mark).    Tom and Dorothy divorced after almost 20 years of marriage but, grew to be close friends before her death in 2000.

Once Tom retired, he would take odd jobs to keep busy – such as delivering cookies for a well-known Wisconsin cookie company.  He soon became known as “grandpa cookie” to his older grandchildren as they got to reap the benefits of their grandpa delivering cookies.

He also would pick up and deliver orders to his daughters who both owned businesses at the time.  His fee, a cup of coffee and conversation with the regulars.

Tom enjoyed biking, reading and his Green Bay Packers. He lived just down the street from Lambeau field and loved to park cars, getting to know his regulars to share a beer with. He would always save a spot for family and friends.  Tom also had a very dry sense of humor that only those close to him could truly appreciate.

Tom will be missed by his sister Mary Jane Bake (Bob) and his brother Don Olson (Gerry) and his  3 Children (listed above), 9 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Esther Olson and his brother, Bob Olson and sister-in-law Pat Olson.

Thank you to Cedar Creek Manor for your wonderful care of our dad over the past couple of years. There will be a private service for Tom.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com