January 27, 2025 – West Bend, Wi – Nancy Carolyn Olson, nee Bumgardner, of West Bend passed away peacefully on Monday, January 20, 2025.
Also known by her childhood nick name ‘Diny’ (an abbreviation of ‘Dynamite’) by her close family and friends, she was born to Lela and William Bumgardner on January 1, 1933, in Shelby, North Carolina, and was the fourth of nine children.
She spent her childhood and early adult years in Shelby, North Carolina and at the age of 22, on October 30, 1954, she met the love of her life William ‘Bill’ Olson of West Bend, Wisconsin. As described on many occasions by both Nancy and William when they met eyes for the very first time, it was “love at first sight” and they both somehow knew that their destiny was to be together. On July 2, 1955, she married William at The Cathedral of Saint Patrick in Charlotte, North Carolina, and they would go on to have seven children.
After raising her seven children, she attended the University of Wisconsin -Milwaukee and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, graduating Magna cum laude in 1987 at the age of 55. Shortly thereafter, she obtained her Real Estate License, becoming a high achieving Real Estate Agent in Washington County Wisconsin for many years.
Nancy lived her life as a devoted and loving wife, mother and friend to all who knew her. Her lifelong devotion to each of her seven children was most exceptional. She sacrificed her life’s work for her loved ones. She was a deeply loving, caring, thoughtful, supportive, generous, dignified, prudent, talented, respected, moral and ethical woman with exceptionally high intelligence. She held strong values and beliefs and was unwavering in her unconditional love and concern for all her children and loved ones.
She was a devout Roman Catholic and woman of deep faith and prayer. She was resolute in raising each of her seven of children in the Roman Catholic Church.
Right up to the moment of her passing, she was a role-model in so many immeasurable ways. The entirety of her life is best described as a graceful, saintly and holy, and she was always a faithful servant of The Lord. She was, and she is truly a most beautiful soul.
She was preceded in death by her husband William Allan Olson and her daughters Mary Karen Wondrash (nee Olson) and Catherine Grace Waldron (nee Olson).
Survivors include her children, sons William “Allan”, Lawrence, Richard and Robert Olson and daughter Nancy Mangan (nee Olson) and grandchildren Jessica Waldron, David, Arin, Daniel, Clara, Samuel, Justin, Timothy and Laura Olson, and Gregory and Patrick Mangan.
Our family wants all to know how much she loved us, and how much she is loved by all of us, for which there are no words that can describe adequately. Her self-sacrificing and profound love is her enduring legacy, and she will forever remain in our memories and in our hearts.
A Roman Catholic Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, January 30 at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Holy Angels Cemetery. Visitation will be at St. Frances Cabrini Church on Thursday from 11 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. The Holy Rosary will be recited at 12:45 pm followed by the recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 1:10 p.m. The Funeral Mass will commence at 1:30pm, and all are welcome.
Memorial donations to St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and The Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill are very much appreciated.
The Schmidt Funeral Home of West Bend is serving the family.