Jerry Edwin Olson

September 30, 1947 - March 28, 2016

Jerry was born to Vince and Helen Olson in Portland Oregon. He attended Duniway Grade School and Cleveland High School in Portland Oregon. He served in the United States Army as a helicopter mechanic during the Vietnam War. Jerry graduated from Portland State University with a degree in Geology. He worked for the U.S. Bureau of Mines, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and InfoMine in Spokane WA. Jerry was the ultimate family man, loving husband of Noreen for 33 years and proud father of Kevin and Isaac. He loved camping, rafting, and anything outdoors, and was an accomplished athlete, which included the Canadian Ironman in 1997 and completed many Bloomsday races.

Jerry had a great sense of humor and a wicked wit. He was unaware of the impact he had on the people he came in contact with and left an everlasting impression upon them. Jerry's annual Earth Day proclamations were an annual reminder of his penchant for engaging others in a way that made them question their beliefs, and his numerous political commentaries to family and friends and letters to the local editor were proof of his passion and humor.

Jerry is survived by his wife Noreen, sons Kevin Olson and Isaac Olson, brother Craig Olson, sister Karin Lepiane, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Terry Olson.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Wingman Foundation (hhtp://www.wingmanfoundation.org) and Wounded Warrior Project (https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org)

Memorial services will take place Tuesday April 5th at 1:00 at Ball and Dodd Funeral home 5100 W. Wellesley Ave. Spokane WA. 99205