Richard (Dick) Olson, age 76 of Amery, Wisconsin passed away unexpectedly at his home on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. Dick was born to Clifford and Elaine Olson in Amery on September 13th, 1940. A lifelong member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Dick was baptized November 10, 1940 (the same day of the Armistice Day Blizzard) and confirmed his faith in 1954.

Dick was an only child and enjoyed growing up in Amery with many friends from his first home on South Street to the family "farm" on Harriman Avenue. Dick always had an interest in music, which brought him to St. Olaf College after he graduated from Amery High School in 1958. While at St. Olaf, he played bass horn as a member of the St. Olaf Band, and graduated in 1962 with a degree in music education.

After graduating from St. Olaf, Dick began his teaching career in the Cameron, WI school district. He soon returned to his home school district in Amery, though, where he began teaching in 1964 and also started working on his Masters from Mankato State University, which he completed in 1971.

During this early time in his career, Dick met Sharon Koeppen. They were married in 1968 and shared many years of marriage and family life with their two children, Brenda and Erik.

Dick loved his work and continued at the Amery School District - teaching general music, band, choir, and individual lessons — for 30 years before his retirement in 1994. After retirement, he continued his life-long interests in the outdoors, where he rarely passed up the opportunity to fish, hunt, farm, garden and just enjoy the beauty of nature with a quiet morning on the lake.

Dick is survived by Sharon from Amery, WI; his daughter Brenda (Christine) Olson Bingea from Maplewood, MN; son Erik (Katherine) Olson from Boston, MA; his grandchildren Margaret and Thomas Olson, also from Boston, MA; his brother-in-law Larry Koeppen and his wife, Juanita, from Amery, WI, as well as nieces, nephews and extended family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 17, 2017 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Amery. A visitation will be held from 9:30 am to 11:00 am prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at the Amery Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Richard (Dick) Olson may be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Amery, WI.