Obituary
David Melvin Olson
David Melvin (Ole) Olson, age 65, of La Crosse, WI. passed away peacefully on August 19, 2017 in Benedictine Manor after a brief cancer illness. He was born on December 8, 1951 to Marcella and Melvin Olson. He shared his life for the last 15 years with Jolene Quinn. Dave was in the pizza industry for 50 years, having started at the Pizza Villa at age 15. He owned and operated several Happy Joe’s restaurants for almost 40 years in La Crosse and Onalaska. Dave achieved his lifelong dream when he and Jolene created Ole’s Pizza Company, a professional mobile kitchen and food trailer.
Dave was a pizza artist, who loved to create new recipes. He always said he just wanted to “make everyone happy”. Dave was a star basketball player at Aquinas and his team went to State. He attended UWL and was a member of Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity.
He enjoyed woodworking, boating, travel, sports, and riding his Harley.
He is survived by his significant other, Jolene (Erlewein) Quinn, sister Diane (Deane) Kishel, and brother Denis Olson, 5 nieces and nephews, 6 great nieces and nephews, and many cousins.
Thank you to all his friends that reached out to him during the sudden illness.
Dave was a member of the Valley View Rotary for 15 years. He was always a friend to libraries, doing summer reading programs for children and, of late, he served pizza at the South Branch Library with the food trailer to support their efforts to build circulation. He took pleasure raising money for local organizations. He was also a Big Brother.
A Celebration of Life will be held September 2nd from 12:00 pm-4:00 pm at American Legion Post 52 at 711 So. 6th Street in La Crosse (corner of 6th and Market St.). A memory sharing will begin at 1:00.
Jolene you all have my sincere sympathy! David was a wonderful cousin and I enjoyed talking to him whenever I would see him! Sorry that I will not be able to make the celebration of life as I am in charge of a reunion that day! Please tell Diane and Denis that they have my sympathy also!
All my Sympathy Jolene and Family
Bob Lepsch
I was surprised and shocked to read this. I did not know of Dave’s cancer. I’m so sorry Jolene. He was your companion. I knew Dave for many years at Valley View Athletic Club where we had many long, heartfelt talks about life, love and the pursuit of happiness. Really, we did! Dave was my favorite pizza guy too. I’m so sorry for those he left behind. Dave was the definition of a ‘nice guy’ and too young to leave.
Wish to extend my sincere sympathy to family and friends. Knowing Dave was a blessing to our family. In addition he served up pizzas to us on our wedding night and countless birthdays for family and friends through the years. He was one of the good guys.
Jolene, I was one of those young girls who waitressed @ Happy Joe’s back in high school in their original location in the early ’80’s. I wasn’t there long but Dave was such a sweetheart in the kitchen. I developed confidence while working there (maybe it’s because I did many Saturday afternoon birthday parties of 10 kids and to be honest you had to be brave to wear the original waitress uniforms with the red & white striped bloomers) Dave was our protector when male customers got out of hand with comments. He enjoyed presenting new menu items to us to try during our meetings. He remembered me even after many years when I went to the Onalaska location to grab a taco pizza. My condolences to you & the rest of Dave’s family. I wish I would have been able to visit with him again with his food truck. I’m glad he was able to fulfill his dream if only for a short time.