Milven Carl "Mel" Olson
June 11, 1966 - April 20, 2012

"Mel blended right in to our "in-law Family." Mel was a very humble, kind, considerate, compassionate and congeneal Nephew. I will miss him and especially at birthday parties, and holiday dinner parties, when good times were enjoyed by all. I think he looked forward to Santa's visit too, especially this last year when fireworks in the sky were the highlight of his departure. You will never be forgotten, Mel. I will continue to include you in all my daily prayers, and schedule Masses for you. May your soul rest in peace. Aunt Margie "

"Melvie helped me through a tough first year of high school, and I was so proud to be best friends - I know it's corny now, but at that age it was important to have a 'best friend.' I remember walking to Randy's and finding ten dollars and filling up Melvie's go-cart with gas and driving it all day, and how he laughed when the switch got stuck and I couldn't stop. He loved to laugh, and we joked non-stop. He was a good guy, non-judgmental; just decent in every way, and that's why he was the natural choice for our class prom king. On my drive back to the funeral I thought of all the good times we had, and have written about some in other places - like the firecrackers up at the mound, or riding bikes, or the radios we each bought in the summer of 1981 - identical. We shared birthdays with Scotty - I remember the campouts we had, and birthday parties, but Melvie and I were always together. Even after high school we shared a house in Platteville, and our housemates were so tickled by Melvie. He got some piranhas and we'd watch them for hours. Lanita and Heidi came over for dinner one time: he was so proud of Lanita. So proud of his brother Olie too. I was proud to be Melvie's friend, and hope I was as good a friend to him as he was to me. Wish I would have kept in touch better, old friend; I'll miss you terribly, and always regret not touching base with you recently. I still have dreams of Belmont, years later, strange echoes of those formative years, and in almost every dream I'm down by the creek walking up the hill toward Melvie's house. Peace, friend."

"Melvin I will always remember you on my wrestling team. Keeping my memories of you and the gang! COACH. DAN. ENGELKE "

"Milven was the brother I never had and I will miss him always. Playing together as kids, wrestling in the yard, catching lightning bugs, playing with Bud... I could go on and on. My heart felt sympathy goes out to the entire Olson family. I will miss you my friend."

"To my youngest brother from your little big sister: I sure didn't expect we would be saying goodbye to you at such a young age. There is so much that you will miss of your family and they (and us) of you. I will always remember: when you were just weeks old and Mom cradling you in her arms with a look of anguish as she told Dad that there was something wrong with your heart and that you would have to have surgery, the look on Dad's face of total helplessness and not sure how to comfort Mom. I remember the look on their faces of relief and joy when they got to bring you home from the hospital. I remember how excited you would get when someone would take you fishing. I remember those dorky jeans that you wore in grade school--the ones that were gathered up at the waist. (giggle, snort) I remember how happy you were to be on the wrestling team and your "signature" moves. I went to one of your first wrestling matches and remember yelling, "I don't think his arm is supposed to bend like that"!! You won that match. I remember how handsome you looked in your tux for the High School Prom. I remember how happy you looked at your wedding. I remember the look of joy and pride on your face at your childrens baptisms. I remember the look on your face when you talked about being diagnosed with mytonic muscular dystrophy and how dissappointed you were at not being able to do some of the things that you loved. I know now that you are with Mom & Dad and that you are in their loving arms and they are protecting you from some of the devasting effects of that dreaded disease. I will miss you. Love always"

"Your Mom ALWAYS worried about you, Mel. Now she can hold you in her arms. All our sympathy & prayers to your family & friends. Go in Peace."

"I wish I could post some more words but there are no words he will be missed very much miss you Mel "

"Dear Mel, I will miss you dearly. I know I couldn't replace your mother but tried to fill a little of her shoes. We helped each other out. I had just finished replacing the raggedy cuffs of your favorite jacket and patched many knees in your jeans or just made cut-offs. You, I will miss as our favorite carver for our Thanksgiving turkey and Easter ham and my electric problems. A few months ago, I helped you replace all my ourlets in the family room. Together we got it done. Thanks for helping with our annual Christmas cookie decorating. Yours were the ones I could serve to company as they were the best. Rest in peace Mel. I will try to support, care for and guide your family as best as I can. Your mother-in-law, Joanne"

"Oh little Brother, your passing has left many with aching hearts. Your kind, gentle soul will always be missed. You did face some pretty big obstacles in your young life and I was always amazed at your resilience (could also have been the Olson stubborness!). Your two boys are mirror images of you at the younger stages of your life...not 1 but 2 mini mes!!...you will live on in them. You were a wonderful brother and I watched you be a wonderful husband and a wonderful father. Know that you were loved by many. Miss You, Lesa"

"I am so very fortunate to have had Mel touch my life. He will hold a very special place in my heart as do all of the Olson Family. My favorite memory is a very recent one. Just a week ago Mel cooked up the best batch of BBQ ribs I have ever had in my whole life. It was a special day as we were celebrating Chris' 13th birthday. Mel was all smiles that day as was everyone. Mel I will miss you!!!"

"Mel was My loving husband. I really can't believe this is really real yet. I don't know when I will. What do I say, life is short and taken for granted. I loved Mel and we have Carissa, Christopher, and Brian. What more could I ask for. I just thank God for the years that we had together. Some wonderful years with our wonderful children. I will love and miss him always. Me and the kids are going to miss him like crazy, we already do. I know that he is in heaven now and in peace and happiness. One day we will all be reunited. Until then, I will do my best on my journey on earth so that one day I will also be in Heaven with my husband Mel. Jane Olson"

"Many tears have been shed, and many more will be shed. Let this time be a reflection of the many blessings that God gives us everyday. It isn't the breath that we take, but the many moments that takes our breath away. I will miss you so much, Milven. God only takes the best. He knew you were tired. Rest in Peace, my friend."

"Hi Daddy, I miss you putting me to bed and I will miss you watching movies with me and letting me stay up late on Friday nights and eating popcorn. I will miss you making root beer floats and shakes. I will just miss sitting on your lap. I will miss a whole bunch of things. Mommy says she will do all that now, but I still want you to. I know that you can't now, so I hope it is fine if Mommy does all that now. I know that you are in heaven and watching me. I will try to be good for Mommy. Mommy also gave me your wallet and it had a bunch of money in it. Love your Boo Boo forever."

"I will love you forever and I will miss you.I liked that you always made me happy when I was sad. I also remember going to the lead mine to go fishing. We did not catch anything, but we had a good time just spending time together. I will do my best to help Mom. I am keeping your shoes, so that one day I can fill them. Goodbye for now. We will see each other again some day. Love your son Christopher (Baby)"

"Well "Melvie Olson"; You will leave on in the hearts of many for many reasons. You were the funny, sweet, kind little boy next door who was like a brother and a great friend to my girls. All of you spent many hours together as you grew up in the little neighborhood in Belmont. Remember the go cart races down Highland Street and the summer of tornadoes with everyone in the basement at you house. I can't miss mentioning those wonderful parents of yours. My heart goes out to your family, your brothers, and your sisters. You have a legacy that will live on. Pam, Dawn, and Tiffany's Mom"

"In a family of 8 kids - I was number 6, Mel was number 7. Besides blood - Mel and I share a name, we used to joke that "by the time mom and dad got to us they were running out of names", mine is "Erling Milven" Mel's is "Milven Carl". I am not complaining, we were both blessed with historic family names. Mel came into this world with obstacles to overcome. In 1970 at the age of 4 he had to have open heart surgery to fix a heart murmur. Open heart surgery at that time was a new and still dangerous technology - let alone on a child. They actually had to wait until he was 4 because he would have been too small to operate on before that time. Mom and Dad had to keep him out of sports and strenuous activity for what seemed like forever, it was almost another decade before the Doctors released Mel for full activity. In high school Mel played football and became a dam good wrestler. He got along with everyone, his high school class even voted him Prom King proving that he was loved by more then just us. For the next 40 years we all thought that he had the heart issues beat. Mel became a loving husband and father. You will never meet 3 more wonderful kids and loving wife. My heart goes out to them because they will now have an obstacle to climb as well. They will always know that Mel will be watching over them, encouraging them on. I speak from the heart, we will all miss him. Not just his wife and children, not just his 7 brothers and sisters, but everyone he touched throughout his life. "

"Milven grew up at 110 Highland Street, Belmont, WI. I grew up next door. I too remember watching the Mickey Mouse Club with him and singing the song to his name. He would echo back to say "Donald Duck" in that infamous Donald Duck voice of his. He did it so well. When we were young there were 4 of us that were inseparable: Milven, Pam, Lisa and Kent. We rode together to kindergarten (country school), went to Sunday School and Bible School together. A lot of fond memories growing up. Katie, don't you dare let the memories go, any of them! That is what keeps up going. I will greatly miss my best friend and all around pal. See you on the other side some day and save a place in line for me....Love you and miss you"

"Melv's favorite flower was a dandeloin. His favorite color blue. His favorite meal - steak and harvard beets. He wanted 600 children and he was going to own and operate Melvino's Pizza. His favorite Sunday School Song "This Little Light Of Mine"."

"Milven was my classmate in Belmont. I regret to say that we lost touch after graduation, but I will always have fond memories of him. He was humorous and kind and never short on words to tease you with. He was a wonderful friend and was always one of the good guys. I can only imagine he made a wonderful father and husband. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Good-bye Milven, and rest in peace. Kellie (Wedig) Meixner Class of 1984"

"I Love my Dad who dide. :( I am sorry that you dide. I hope you will watch over me every single day. Love Brian Olson"

"My heart is breaking for Mel's family. I know how much he meant to all of them. I know how much joy and laughter he has given to us all. There are so many memories that I have growing up around Mel. Here are a few of my favorites: throwing Kate's shoe into the hole of the owl's nest, rolling down the hill in the big intertube (I was soooo scared), and changing the Mickey Mouse club song to fit with his name. But now its time to say good-bye to all my family "M-I-L, V-E-N O-L-S-O-N." See you soon. By deepest sympathies to his family and friends. He will be deeply missed!"

"Mel is my big brother and will remain that way in my heart and soul forever. He actually wanted a little sister when mom was pregnant with me, not a little brother. Who would have thought? (Although it may have been so I wouldn't play with his toys.) Little did he know that I was stuck to him like glue and his toys were still my toys:) He never complained because coming from a big family you share everything anyway. He actually gave me his piggy bank when he was eight because of something that had happened to me. He used to make my stuffed animals talk, we would stack the Christmas presents up and build forts and hide behind them trying to open them to see what was in them or go down to the "crick" to try and catch "crawdaddies." How do you stop talking about the memories? At least I know that even though he is gone, I now know that I have a great guardian angel who is still watching out for me and his family."

"I lost my baby brother -- I try to find words as my heart is breaking -- tears roll down my face -- I close my eyes -- but the hurt and loss doesn't go away.. My heart hurts for myself, but breaks for him and his family. Their world has been turned upside down -- what words do you say??? I shake my head in shock - how can this be? I am so sorry I can't find words -- I can only say "I love you ... my heart aches with you today.""