Rod Olson Age 75, of Rice Lake, WI, died Friday, November 4, 2022 with his wife and son by his side.

He was born on June 2, 1947 in Brainerd, MN to Carl and Maude (Morcomb) Olson.

Rod graduated from Brainerd High School, Brainerd Junior College, St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN and the University of MN Medical School. He was married to Carol Pierzina on August 16, 1969 in Little Falls, MN. Rod grew up on a farm and worked for Tri City Construction Company. Rod was a volunteer and community organizer with the Menominee Tribe in Menominee County, WI. He became a Physician Assistant in Custer County, Colorado for a year, and he did his residency at Family Practice Residency in Eau Claire, WI for 3 years and then moved to Rice Lake in 1980 and established the Lakeland Family Clinic with his partner, Gus Stelzer and retired in 2013. Rod was also the director of the Lakeview Medical Center Emergency Department for 13 years. He also taught wellness classes at the UW of Barron County and to local paramedics. He loved working on rock piles, enjoyed collecting rocks, working to restore 2 farms and homes and especially loved to drive his tractor. His hobbies included amatuer Paleontology, seeking fossils in Montana and educating students about dinosaurs. Rod worked on land and water restoration for Desair Lake and the Red Cedar Watershed. He was also an artist and woodworker. Rod was the organizer of the Rice Lake Historical Sculpture Project Committee and worked to install 4 sculptures on the north end of Lakeshore Drive.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Olson; a son, Brent Olson; a daughter-in-law, Darla Olson (Ron Kwasny); 2 granddaughters, Brooke and Brynn Olson; 2 brothers, Terry (Deborah) Olson and Lew (Helen) Olson; 3 sisters, Marie Zander, Luana Olson and Carole (John) Gilbert; many nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his son, Forrest Olson; his parents, Carl and Maude Olson; a brother, Lee Olson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11AM Friday, November 11, 2022 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Dobie, WI, Father Ed Anderson, Father Dave Oberts and Father Dennis Mullen officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-8PM Thursday at Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake and for one hour prior to the Funeral Service at the Church on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to Forrest Run Foundation, Desair Lake Restoration Inc., Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church renovation project, and River Doc Nature Conservancy, or Badlands Dinosaur Museum in Dickinson, North Dakota.

Last Update: Nov 07, 2022 11:26 am CST