Jeffrey Olson
Jeffrey William Olson was born Aug. 21, 1957, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Jim and Ora Olson and welcomed home to Windsor Heights by older siblings Craig and Christine. Jeff was baptized and confirmed at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church, attended schools in Windsor Heights and graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines. He attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, graduating with a degree in horticulture. Childhood vacations took the family to the East and West Coasts, visiting relatives and spending many summers at the family cabin on Rice Lake in Paynesville, Minn. Shortly after college, he moved to Southern California to pursue work and “the good life” in the Golden State.
On April Fools’ Day, 1988 Jeff was introduced to DeAnn True on a blind date. DeAnn immediately changed his life forever, and they were inseparable from that day on. They married Thanksgiving Day morning, Nov. 28, 1991, in Santa Barbara, Calif., and made Long Beach, Calif., their home.
The Olsons fell in love again, this time with the Pacific Northwest after a soggy November anniversary vacation in 1995. They moved to Whidbey Island on Christmas Eve 1996. Jeff commuted into Seattle for three years before his final career opportunity opened up in Coupeville, Wash., fulfilling his dream of becoming a full-time local.
Jeff originally pursued a career in horticulture, which led to a progression of career shifts, ending with his becoming a ship broker. How do you become a ship broker? Jeff would answer, “Go to college and get a degree in horticulture.” He put his horticultural expertise to good use, though, in creating a beautiful setting to surround the home he and DeAnn built in Freeland, Wash.
Throughout his life, Jeff nourished his love of nature and the outdoors by sailing, fishing, camping, kayaking and traveling. He was happiest when he was with family or planning trips, whether flying off to the Netherlands, Paris, Norway or exploring the States and British Columbia, Canada. His plans managed to include visiting domestic wineries whenever possible.
Church and community service were important to Jeff. He was active in Hearts & Hammers for many years and in Trinity Lutheran Church activities: the Wood Ministry, Men’s Breakfast Group and, with DeAnn, TLC’s Volunteer Gardeners.
Jeff was preceded in death by his father. Jeff leaves his wife of 23 years, DeAnn; her daughters, Michelle True of Upland, Calif., and Kim McGowen (Dennis) of East Wenatchee, Wash.; grandsons, Mitchell Brayford, Dennis Jr. and Riley McGowen; brother, Craig (Dixie) of Santa Barbara; sister, Christine (Charles) of Iowa City, Iowa; one niece, two nephews, grandnieces and nephews; many cousins; and DeAnn’s extended family
Jeff went to be with our Lord Jan. 21, 2015, after a two-year battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the charity of your choice or to Trinity Lutheran Church Landscape Fund, P.O. Box 97, Freeland, WA 98249; Lung/Thoracic Oncology Research Fund, Dr. Renato Martins, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Box 358081, Seattle, WA 98109-1023; Whidbey General Hospital Foundation — Hospice Program, 101 N. Main St., Coupeville, WA 98239.
