Sheila Janelle Olson, age 70, of Wheeler, died Wednesday, February 26 after a lengthy battle with Lewy Body Dementia.  She was born on September 11, 1949 in the town of Prairie Farm, to Forrest and Margaret (Tronud) Spitzer.

She attended Prairie Farm schools and received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin River Falls and her Master of Education from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse.

At the age of 20, she married Dennis Olson at United Lutheran Church in Prairie Farm.  Together, they finished their senior year of college while residing in River Falls.

She began her 30+ year teaching career in the Prairie Farm area following graduation where her strong faith and love of community led her to play key roles in a wide variety of organizations.  For the church, she advised the Youth in Christ, sang in the Church Choir, was a member of the Church Council, an active leader in her Circle, and was a teacher for Sunday School and Bible School.  In the community and at the school, she advised the Pom/Dance team, sat on the Scholarship and Curriculum Committees, volunteered for sporting, music, and extra-curricular events as well as many, many others.  She ultimately devoted countless hours and energy to fostering and nurturing the potential she saw in her students and the youth of the community.

In addition to her church and community activities, she had a love of gardening, dogs, cooking, sewing, holidays – especially Christmas - and celebrating birthdays with family and friends.  You could often find her listening to her favorite music or whistling a song while enjoying her many hobbies.  Most important of all, though, was her love of family.  Her immediate and extended family and friends were truly the love and joy of her life.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 49 years, Dennis, and their three children: Erin (Joey) Metzger of Minneapolis, MN; Krissa (Edrick) Wade of Minneapolis, MN; and Dustin Olson (Peter Rindal) of Eau Claire, WI; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews and extended family members.

She is preceded in death by her parents.

Please join us to celebrate her life at United Lutheran Church in Prairie Farm with a funeral service to be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Mark Hall officiating.  A visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 3 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday morning at the church.  Burial will be at Vanceburg Cemetery in the Town of Sheridan, Dunn County. 

Arrangements are being handled by Rausch and Steel Funeral Home in Barron, WI. 

Last Update: Feb 28, 2020 7:06 am CST