Dean Olson

Madison - Dean Roger Olson, age 60, passed away on Monday, December 11, 2017, surrounded by his family, following complications with cancer. He was born on May 18, 1957, the son of David and Patricia (Sletterdahl) Olson, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1975, he graduated from West Bend High School. He went backpacking throughout Europe before he attended the Moraine Park Technical Institute and UW-Washington County for mechanical engineering.

He lived and worked in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Palo Alto, California; and Madison, Wisconsin. During his career Dean worked as a draftsman and then a mechanical designer. For 17 years, he worked as a senior designer for Research Products Corporation, where he enjoyed both his work and the camaraderie of his colleagues. He was the owner of the Wright Street Gallery in Milwaukee in the 1980s. He continued to study art and literature, and he played music weekly. In his spare time, he also loved canoeing, gaming, and, most of all, being a father. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Chapin; two children, Liam and Lydia Olson; and three sisters, Linda (Frank) Shurla, Susan (Don) Newcome, and Heidi (David) Bowers. Dean is also survived by many other loving family and numerous friends.

Private graveside services will be held at Natural Path Sanctuary in Verona. Memorial Services are pending and will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made out in memory of Dean to his family.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3325 E. Washington Avenue, Madison
(608) 249-6666