Jonathan Miles "Smoky Jon" Olson
February 21, 1955 - February 25, 2022
Obituary
MADISON - Jonathan Miles Olson, the son of Donald Miles and Anita Bisarek Olson, was born in Madison on Feb. 21, 1955. He died of complications related to kidney disease and diabetes on Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.
As owner of Smoky Jon’s #1 BBQ, Jon mastered the art of meat, smoke, char, and spicy sauces, firing up appetites and winning more than 100 state and national awards for meats, sauces, and spice rubs. Jon attended La Follette High School (Class of ’73), where he played hockey, football, and baseball and sang in A Cappella Concert Choir.
After graduating, he worked for Oscar Mayer and Reinhart Foodservice-by day. At night, he tinkered with barbeque sauces in his parents’ kitchen. Before long, Jon’s ribs were on the menu at Bogie’s, a night club at Hilldale Shopping Center. Jon’s first restaurant, barely bigger than its carryout counter, opened on Troy Drive. With the rising popularity of his wood-smoked ribs, brisket, and chicken, Smoky Jon’s expanded to its present location on Packers Avenue. Appreciating every customer and working with his valued staff, Jon meticulously attended to food and service, as well as to the hundreds of weddings, parties, and business events the restaurant catered over the years. Jon built the best barbeque operation in the state and Smoky Jon’s #1 BBQ looks forward to continuing business by honoring Jon’s hard work and ideas.
Generous, boldly opinionated, and enterprising, Jon did many things, from building a unique dream house to bartering ribs for Christmas trees to landing super car deals for friends and family. Always the showman, Jon had a real gift for telling stories in his own wickedly funny way. He loved time with family, Vegas trips and concerts with Connie, hunting, singing, and of course, the Packers, Badgers, Brewers, and UW Hockey.
Jon is survived by his loving partner of 42 years, Connie Stenjem; his mother, Anita Bisarek Olson; sisters Mary Olson (Thomas Craig) and Amy Olson; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Miles Olson; and by his grandparents, Louis and Esther (Gasner) Olson and Michael and Mary (Peat) Bisarek.
A service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 12 noon on Thursday, March 3, 2022. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday. In consideration of everyone attending, please wear a mask. Interment will take place at Rock Church Cemetery in Livingston at 12 noon on Friday, March 4, 2022.
Special thanks to UW Hospital and Clinics, Crossroads Care Center of Mayville, and especially to Jim Pertzborn for his kindness and devotion to Jon. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420