Marlene Joyce Olson

Marlene (Bakken) Olson

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Marlene (Bakken) Olson, age 88. She entered God’s eternal kingdom on October 1, 2024, due to complications from Rheumatoid Arthritis and Type 1 Diabetes. 

Marlene was born Sept 11, 1936. Her parents were Marie (Johnson) and Delphin Bakken from Madison, WI. She attended Dudgeon Elementary School and West Junior and Senior High School. She graduated from West in 1954 and completed a two-year associate degree in accounting and bookkeeping at Madison Business College in 1956. She was a lifelong member of Bethel Lutheran Church of Madison where she was baptized, confirmed. 

She married John Olson on July 11, 1958, during a candlelight service also held at Bethel. During their 66-year marriage, Marlene was a loving wife and devoted mother to their four children, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. She also was the foundation of their home during John’s 40-year military reserve career and during his two active service deployments for Operation Uphold Democracy and Operation Desert Shield & Desert Storm.

Marlene also had a career. For many years she was a clerical assistant for the Northwestern Life Insurance Company and was also a teaching assistant at Madison Memorial High School. In her later years, she followed her children’s passion for competitive swimming, working in retail sales for Walter’s Swim Shop.

A common trait of Marlene, shared by her many dear friends and relatives was – through 62 years of Rheumatoid pain, Type 1 Diabetes, raising two sets of children, and the tragic loss of family – she never complained!

Marlene was preceded in death by her parents Delphin and Marie (Johnson) Bakken, her in laws, John Olson Sr., and Dorothy (Moss) Olson, Violet Olson, brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Peg (Hartman) Olson, sister-in-law Hope (Dahle) Bakken, and son David W. Olson.

She is survived by her husband John, daughter Laurie (David) Marsh of Mahtomedi MN, son Dr. Michael (Doug) Olson of Kingwood, TX, daughter Kristin (Rick) Olson-Huddle of Portland, OR, brothers Lowell (Judie) Bakken and Jim Bakken, grand-children Ryan (Caitlin) Marsh, Matthew (Emma) Marsh, Katelyn Marsh, Gus Olson-Huddle and Marlo Olson-Huddle, and great-grandchildren Cullen Marsh, McCoy Marsh and Reagan Marsh.

The family extends their deepest appreciation and gratitude to Dr. Elizabeth Berger, Dr. Melissa Meredith, Dr. Tim Harrington, Dr. John Jusevicous, Dr. Gary Grigliano, Dr. Maxwell Flynn, Dr. Gerhard Kraske, Diabetes Educator Kara Yeager, Andrea Dettman, PA; Jane Nixon, PA, Alison Subach, BSN, RN, Jade Walsh, MSW, CAPSW, Allison Rhodes, RN, Lynn Middleton RNCM JVL/MSN, and the entire care team at the Agrace Hospice residential care facility in Fitchburg, WI for their endless compassion and marvelous care during Marlene’s extended illness.

A private family burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Chapel. Following the burial, a visitation and a celebration of Marlene’s life will be conducted at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road Madison, WI 53705 for family and friends on Saturday October 5, 2024, at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Madison Public Schools Foundation – MMSD High School Girls & Boys Sports Equity Endowment Fund at MMSD High School Girls and Boys Sports Equity Endowment Fund - Madison Public Schools Foundation (schoolsmakemadison.org) or by mail at Madison Public Schools Foundation, 2005 West Beltline Highway, Suite 203, Madison, WI 53713. 

Please share your memories at www.cressfuneralservice.com

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service

3610 Speedway Road Madison

(608) 238-3434