Obituary
Donald K. Olson
Donald K. Olson, the much-loved former Physics and Math teacher of La Crosse Central High School and Western (Wisconsin) Technical College, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2025 at the age of 82.
He died as a result of rapidly progressing Parkinson’s Disease linked to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service on the Destroyer Edson in the Tonkin Gulf in 1965.
Don was born December 9, 1943 on a cold wintry night in his family’s farmhouse. The doctor said if he lived until morning, he would be all right. He graduated from Amery High School with an emphasis on sports (wrestling, football, and track), and a day after graduation he embarked to San Diego, CA for Naval basic training. Don was very proud of his military service. After completing Electronic Technical School, he was stationed for 13 months off the coast of Viet Nam and was responsible for maintaining communication equipment. After his discharge in 1966, he moved to River Falls, WI, where he put his GI Bill to good use and earned his Master’s degree in Physics and Applied Mathematics.
While in college, he met and married the love of his life, Kathy Lindner, his Chemistry lab partner. Their daughter, Erika, was born in 1978. Don was a very proud father, and he and Kathy instilled the importance of service in Erika. Over the years, he championed his daughter through Peace Corps in Burkina Faso, Medical School and Infectious Disease Fellowship, volunteering with Doctors Without Borders in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and serving the Navajo and Hopi Nations through her work with the Indian Health Service.
Don taught at Central High School for 25 years and at WTC for 15 years influencing numerous students along the way through his engaging, entertaining, and often irreverent teaching style. Don is preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Kathy (2014), who was also a WTC educator, and his daughter, Dr. Erika L. Olson (2025), who was a Hospitalist and Infectious Disease physician. He is survived by two of his five siblings Melvin and Muriel, who live in the Minneapolis area.
Prior to his daughter’s passing, Don and Erika set in motion a Charitable Foundation. The Dr. Erika Olson Charitable Foundation has been established to contribute to various causes encompassing adult literacy, social justice, and women’s reproductive options treatment/counseling and La Crosse area conservation efforts. His final wish was to donate his body to the University of Wisconsin Medical School to educate future students. Before her death his daughter teased him that that would be the only way he would get into medical school. Regardless, he left his mark on countless students and colleagues in La Crosse throughout the decades. Before his death, Don requested that there be no memorial service.
Instead please consider sending a contribution via check to Poehling Capital Management, Inc, C/O Thomas Poehling, 525 Junction Rd, Suite 8900, Madison, WI 53717 made out to Dr. Erika L. Olson Charitable Foundation. Local friends who want to remember Don are invited to The Bluffside at 7:00 PM on January 28, 2026.
A great guy! Never a dull moment with Don around. He left us too early!
Don was a dedicated and creative physics teacher at CHS. He would often times show me or ask me how mathematics applied to his presentations! Unquestionably an outstanding staff member!!
Don was my Physics Teacher the first year he was in at Central. He is one of the reasons I became a Physics/ Science instructor. His style was instilled in my teaching techniques along with a few other great teachers. Don would take me sailing, and we would play Tennis and golf. Our conversations were always interesting, and down to Earth. We had a few classes together at the University, and always tried to relate what was being taught to our High School classes. But, most of the time we taught what was relevant and what the students needed to know.
Don Olson Thank you for being in my life…Like he used to say ” Heck of a deal”
One of my all time favorite teachers at Central High School. He will be remembered fondly by so many of his students!
After 14 years with Parkinson’s symptoms and eleven years of research and pursuing natural treatments and therapies, I thought I had exhausted all options for a recovery. Especially as things hadn’t been going so well over the previous couple of years. Then, just as I was asking the Universe for help, last July, I tried the PD-5 protocol—the best decision ever!. Boy, am I glad I did! Over 90 days, My tremors eased, my energy returned, and I slept soundly. I feel like a new woman, and I can walk and exercise again. I got the PD-5 from limitless healthcenter. c om
Forever in my heart, Mr. O💜
I never really “got” physics, but you believed in me. Thank you for taking the time to care.
Your heart and humor were infectious. I’ll never forget our Friday night ski parties at Mr. Kartman’s, our study sessions with Erika, and our philosophical convos!
I’m better because I knew you.
Your student and friend, Kepper, Kep 😀