David Walter Olson, Cedarburg…age 78, passed away peacefully at his home on July 1, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family and friends after a courageous battle with dementia with Lewy bodies.
Dave was an accomplished orthopedic hand surgeon by profession; however, his true passion was farming. For more than 40 years, he cared for patients with exceptional skill and compassion through his work at Hand Surgery Limited and the Orthopedic Hospital of Wisconsin. Whether caring for patients or tending the land, he approached everything with quiet determination, generosity, and integrity. He was a man who always saw the best in others, gave freely of his time and talents, and never sought recognition for his kindness.
Dave married his best friend and lifelong partner, Sandra Kay (Byerly) Olson. Together they built a life centered on family, faith, hard work, and love, raising three children. Dave believed that the greatest lessons were taught through example and by emphasizing the importance of education. On the family’s Cedarburg farm, he planted thousands of trees, maintained the land, and instilled in his children the values of perseverance, generosity, and stewardship. Those lessons extended beyond his own family to two young men who became like sons to him, Anthony Faller and Matthew Kearns. Through countless projects and shared experiences, he became a mentor whose influence will live on for generations.
Dave will be fondly remembered for the stories that perfectly reflected his character: renting an earth mover for Thanksgiving weekend because there were ponds to be excavated; bringing chainsaws on an airplane for his honeymoon because there were trees that needed cutting when they arrived; giving his grandchildren “boda” rides around the farm; never passing up a good sale, whether he needed anything or not; insisting that ice cream deserved recognition as its own essential food group; and always having a notecard and pen tucked into his shirt pocket, ready to jot down an idea, a project, or something worth remembering.
A Celebration of Life will be held this fall at the Olson family residence. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial donations to Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association Click To Donate or to Lewy Body Dementia Association Click To Donate, or, in keeping with Dave’s generous spirit, asks that you honor his memory by performing a simple act of kindness for someone in need.