Obituary for Anna Marie Olson
Anna M. Olson, 96, of Ironwood Township, passed peacefully at The Villa Maria Nursing Home in Hurley, WI, on January 19, 2023, where she had resided for the past fourteen months.
Anna was born October 23, 1926, in Ironwood, MI. the daughter of
Andrew Joseph Rye, Jr. and Anna LeGeault Rye. Anna was a proud graduate of St.
Ambrose schools. She then worked for an Ironwood bank before marrying her
husband, the late Donald E. Olson, on June 23, 1945.
Anna and Don built a home on Olson Road, where they raised nine
children.
Anna was a proficient homemaker. She was very organized and ran a
clean and orderly house. The savory aroma of homemade bread, pies,
and cinnamon rolls often filled the air. The bounty of the gardens and wild
fruits were enjoyed all winter because of her diligence in canning or
freezing the gifts of the earth all summer long. Anna showed love by
always having fresh and hot meals for the many people living in or visiting
her home.
Anna was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles and Scrabble.
But her real forte was “shooting the moon” and bidding crazily in a card
game called “Smear.” Her opponents would be amazed at her guts to take
chances and exasperated by her endless luck!
Later in life, Anna learned the Norwegian art of Rosemaling and artfully
painted the many wooden objects that adorned her home, many of which
were made by her husband. Lucky children and grandchildren have
received such items, which will be lovingly cherished. For more than 30
years this artist lived with the slowly declining vision from macular
degeneration. Anna resigned herself to becoming legally blind and
eventually couldn’t paint or read anymore. Anna never complained about
her inability to perform her favorite pastimes, although she missed them
immensely.
She was predeceased by her parents, Andrew(Anna) Rye, husband Donald Olson, daughter Marilynn Loreti, brothers Harold, James, and Elwood Rye, and Sister Kjersten Siewert and son-in-law Jim Finley.
Surviving her are her sons Donald, Robert, Dale, and Daniel Olson; daughters Donna Finely, Judy Hemes (Walt), Susan Olson, and Cheryl Cosgrove (Greg); sister-in-law Mary Ann Rye and many loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A private mass will be held for Anna in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please
consider a donation to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation
P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515, telephone 1-888-622-8527
Anna was born October 23, 1926, in Ironwood, MI. the daughter of
Andrew Joseph Rye, Jr. and Anna LeGeault Rye. Anna was a proud graduate of St.
Ambrose schools. She then worked for an Ironwood bank before marrying her
husband, the late Donald E. Olson, on June 23, 1945.
Anna and Don built a home on Olson Road, where they raised nine
children.
Anna was a proficient homemaker. She was very organized and ran a
clean and orderly house. The savory aroma of homemade bread, pies,
and cinnamon rolls often filled the air. The bounty of the gardens and wild
fruits were enjoyed all winter because of her diligence in canning or
freezing the gifts of the earth all summer long. Anna showed love by
always having fresh and hot meals for the many people living in or visiting
her home.
Anna was an avid reader and enjoyed crossword puzzles and Scrabble.
But her real forte was “shooting the moon” and bidding crazily in a card
game called “Smear.” Her opponents would be amazed at her guts to take
chances and exasperated by her endless luck!
Later in life, Anna learned the Norwegian art of Rosemaling and artfully
painted the many wooden objects that adorned her home, many of which
were made by her husband. Lucky children and grandchildren have
received such items, which will be lovingly cherished. For more than 30
years this artist lived with the slowly declining vision from macular
degeneration. Anna resigned herself to becoming legally blind and
eventually couldn’t paint or read anymore. Anna never complained about
her inability to perform her favorite pastimes, although she missed them
immensely.
She was predeceased by her parents, Andrew(Anna) Rye, husband Donald Olson, daughter Marilynn Loreti, brothers Harold, James, and Elwood Rye, and Sister Kjersten Siewert and son-in-law Jim Finley.
Surviving her are her sons Donald, Robert, Dale, and Daniel Olson; daughters Donna Finely, Judy Hemes (Walt), Susan Olson, and Cheryl Cosgrove (Greg); sister-in-law Mary Ann Rye and many loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A private mass will be held for Anna in the spring. In lieu of flowers, please
consider a donation to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation
P.O. Box 515, Northampton, MA 01061-0515, telephone 1-888-622-8527