Ronald Lee Olson, 82, of Holmen, WI, passed away peacefully with his loving family around him on June 10, 2026, at Caretta Senior Living in Holmen. He fought a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia. He was born on November 4, 1943, in Moline, IL, to Glenn and Lorraine (DeMeyer) Olson.

Ron enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1961. After basic training, he returned home and married his high school sweetheart, Sara Paschall, on June 3, 1961, at the First Congregational Church in Moline, IL. In October 1961, Ron and Sara welcomed their first child, Paige Ann, born at the Army hospital at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. Ron served in Vietnam from 1962 to 1963. After being discharged from the Army in Louisiana, their family moved back to Moline, where Ron worked for Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric as a meter man while he attended Blackhawk Junior College.

It was during college that Ron would pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. He trained at D and D Aviation in Moline, IL, and became a flight instructor until he was offered a position as a pilot at Mississippi Valley Airlines in La Crosse, WI, in 1969. He later became a Captain and Director of Training. Ron and Sara then welcomed their second child, Ronald Lee (R.L.) Olson II, into their family in August 1970.

His biggest goal was to become a commercial airline pilot. In 1977, his dream came true when he was hired by North Central Airlines, which later merged and became a part of Northwest Airlines. During his career, he was a Captain and became a Check Airman on the DC-9, training many pilots. He flew many different planes and ended his career as a Captain on the Airbus A320. It is estimated that Ron flew over a million passengers during his career. He flew his last flight and retired from Northwest Airlines on October 15, 2003, when mandatory retirement for airline transport pilots was age 60.

What made Ron happiest was spending time with his loving family. They enjoyed many years of family vacations in the Cayman Islands on Grand Cayman. The family all agreed that this was their little piece of heaven on earth. Ron loved scuba diving, and he formed many fond memories diving there with family members.

His other interests were downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and boating on the river, where he was quite the water skier.

Ron and Sara had a loving and beautiful life together, and they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on June 3, 2026. Throughout Ron’s life, he gave his family so much love, support, and laughter. He will be in our hearts forever.

Ron is survived by his wife, Sara Olson; his children, Paige (Travis) Brush and R.L. (Amy) Olson; his grandchildren, Megan (Aaron) Kopp, Abby (Jordan) Knutson, Hunter (Erin Markworth, fiancée) Brush, and Aidan Olson; his great-grandchildren, Grace and Wren Kopp; his sister-in-law, Ann (Paschall) Halsted; his brothers, Jack (April) Hoefer and Kurt (Diana) Olson; his sister-in-law, Carol Olson; cousins, nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, father Glenn Olson and mother Lorraine Hoefer; stepmother, Marian Olson; stepfather, Hugo Hoefer; his father-in-law, Dr. Ronald Paschall; his mother-in-law, Harriett Paschall; and brother, Douglas Olson; and several loving aunts and uncles.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, June 19, 2026, at noon at The Gathering Place, 133 Mason St., Onalaska, WI. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family.

The family would like to give great thanks to the staff at Caretta Senior Living for all the caring, love and support they gave to Ron and his family during the past two and a half years. Also, a special thanks to all the caregivers at Gundersen Hospice for giving so much comfort and care to Ron and his family during such a difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or Gundersen Hospice Program.