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