Margaret Olson

SUN PRAIRIE / MADISON - Margaret Olson, age 90, found peace on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011, at HospiceCare Inc in Fitchburg. She previously resided at the Sun Prairie Health Care Center. She was born on Jan. 31, 1921, in Wisconsin Rapids. Margaret was one of seven children of Charles and Lillian (Menning) Miller. She was united in marriage to George Olson on July 7, 1941, in Dubuque, Iowa. After living in Madison during their marriage of 55 years, Margaret moved to Sun Prairie following her husband\'s death in 1996. While raising four of her own children, Margaret cared for 31 foster children. She was honored at the governor’s mansion as one of the foster mothers of the year. After raising her children, she worked at nursing homes before working at Central Colony for 16 years. Margaret had many hobbies over the years. She was a very fast, proficient crocheter and knitter. She was adept at modifying and even making her own patterns. Many people would come to her house to buy her doilies, table cloths and knitted or crocheted baby blankets. She enjoyed giving them to friends and family as gifts. She donated 100 crocheted snowflakes to Holy Cross Lutheran Church for its Christmas trees. She became involved in ceramics for many years and won many awards. Her children still have many of her holiday and other ceramic pieces. She was an avid cribbage player and also enjoyed bingo while she was still able. Last, but not least, she loved going to the VFW in Sun Prairie one day a week to have lunch and play the penny slots. (Our thanks to the kindness shown to her there.) Going to Ho-Chunk when she had still been able was a special treat. Margaret is survived by two sons, Gary (Sue) Olson of Madison and Keith (Phyllis) Olson of Tampa, Fla.; two daughters, Kathleen (Michael) Slifka of Middleton and Shirley Jensen (Harry Patterson) of Sun Prairie; nine grandchildren, Renee (Dale) Meyers, Sherry (Brian) Johns, Gregory (Katie) Olson, Wednesday (Paul) Jacoby, Brent Reich, Jeffrey (Julie) Jensen, Eric (Vanessa) Olson, Jason (Caitlin) Olson, and Steven (Amanda) Olson;13 great-grandchildren, Taylor and Alyssa Meyers, Nate and Travis Johns, Brady, Ben, and Hope Olson, Dakota Reich and Peyton Jacoby, Laudin and Bronte Jensen, Jack and Ava Olson; her brother, Robert Miller; a special sister-in-law, Adeline Olson; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, George; her parents, Charles and Lillian Miller; three brothers, Richard Miller, Charles Miller Jr., and Raymond Miller; two sisters, Romaine Piekarski and Jean Johnson; and a brother-in-law, Norman Olson. Funeral services will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 2670 Milwaukee St., Madison at 11 a.m., on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011. A private burial service next to her husband in Roselawn Memorial Park has been planned for immediate family and close friends. Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The family would like to extend their grateful appreciation to the staffs at HospiceCare Inc in Fitchburg and The Sun Prairie Health Care Center for their excellent, professional, and loving care given to Margaret. Cemetery: A private burial service next to her husband in Roselawn Memorial Park has been planned for immediate family and close friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday. Funeral services will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 2670 Milwaukee St., Madison at 11 a.m., on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011.