William Lewis Olson, a resident of Palm Harbor, Florida, and former resident of Sun City Center, Florida and St. Paul Park, Minnesota, passed away of natural causes at 93 years of age on May 5, 2023.
Born in Freeman, South Dakota, Bill was the oldest son of William and Helen (Kleinsasser) Olson. At Tyndall High School, Bill was the football team’s quarterback. After graduation in 1948, Bill served in the U.S. Army as a telephone cable installer during the Korean War. Bill left military service and obtained an accounting degree from Nettleton College in Sioux Falls, SD. After marrying Sheila Marie Toomey in 1960, they settled in St. Paul Park, Minnesota with their five children. For the next 30 years, Bill worked as a postal clerk for the United States Post Office and held a part-time job as bus driver for South Washington County Schools. In later years, Bill and Sheila resided in a retirement community in Sun City Center, Florida for most of the year; summers were spent in Minnesota where Bill worked as a bus driver for the railroad. For relaxation, Bill liked to camp, fish, bicycle, play cards, listen to the radio, read, watch sports, golf, volunteer at professional golf tournaments, spend time with family, attend Catholic Mass, and volunteer at the church’s food pantry. Bill was an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Knights of Columbus. Bill will be fondly remembered for his dry wit, independence, pride, work ethic and love of game shows.
Survived by loving wife Sheila and their five children: Michelle Klingenschmitt, Daniel Olson, Kristi Olson, Michael Olson, and Derik (Nina) Olson, grandchildren Trevor (Rebecca) Klingenschmitt and McKinna (Antonino) Di Marco, three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by parents and three siblings: Donna McGilvrey, LaVonne Theisen, and James Olson.
A private Funeral Mass took place at St. Anne Catholic Church in Ruskin, Florida on May 26, 2023. A military interment is scheduled for family and friends at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota on August 25, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. You may send a monetary donation in his memory to St. Anne Church Food Pantry, 106 11th Avenue Northeast, Ruskin, Florida 33570 (https://saintanneruskin.org)
