Charmaine Grace Olson

It is with great love and respect Charmaine will be remembered by her family. She lived her life (August 15, 1930 – October 14, 2021) with deep devotion to her family and her faith, with compassion for others; she gave us the gift of exemplifying growing older with grace and dignity.

Charmaine was born in Wausau, Wisconsin to Helmuth and Lucy (Doleschal) Mueller on her father’s 32nd birthday! She joined her brother Charles at home.  She had a nearby extended family of grandparents and aunts and uncles, some of whom she later supported and cared for as they aged. She enjoyed her childhood, loved to read, and did well at school. She enrolled at UW - Madison in 1948 and graduated in 1952 with a degree in psychology.

She married Donald R. Olson - literally the “boy next door“ - on October 3,1953. They were devoted to each other and their four children: Mary, Martha, Robert, and Elizabeth. As parents, they instilled good values, respect and compassion for others, and integrity in their children. She made her husband and her children the center of her life. They particularly enjoyed summers as a family at the cottage. Charmaine and Don celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a happy gathering of friends and family. Don later passed away in 2008.

Charmaine welcomed the growing family - her children’s spouses (and those spouses‘ family members), her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed many friendships.  She also wrote two children’s books. In her later years, she moved to San Camillo and St. Camillus where she appreciated the loving care she was given there by many staff members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, and her husband, Donald. She is survived by her four children, Dr. Mary Olson (Dr. Harold Posniak), Martha (Dan) Larson, Robert (Julie) Olson, Elizabeth (Ken) Petershack, her grandchildren Andrea (Joe) Farrell, Jennifer Larson, Tess Olson (Ryan Witzigmann), and Matthew (Sherri) Riggle and four great grandchildren Connor Farrell, Forrest and Theodore Riggle and Carter Witzigmann. She will be deeply missed.

Visitation at St. Camillus, Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, 10201 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53226, on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm. Mass of Christian Burial at 1:30 pm. Burial to follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Charmaine would be so pleased for those who wish to make a donation in her name to the charity of their choice.

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