Donald Gary Olson

June 1, 1937 - January 31, 2020

Donald G. "Don" Olson, 82, of McPherson, Kansas, passed away at 1:57 a.m., Friday, January 31st, 2020 peacefully at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, Kansas. Don was born in McPherson, Kansas on June 1, 1937, a son of Ernest Harvey and Pearl Evelyn (Bullene) Olson. Don attended Washington Elementary School, McPherson, Kansas, three years in California, then back to Washington Elementary School, McPherson Junior High School and graduated from McPherson High School, McPherson, Kansas in 1955. He then attended Emporia State University until 1959, then eventually received his Masters Degree at Emporia, State University, Emporia, Kansas. He attended the First United Methodist Church, McPherson. He also was a member of the Board of Trustees, Church Council and the Men's Group. Through the years Don worked as a teacher in Rose Hill and Wichita West, Wichita, Kansas. He then became a Assistant Principal at Wichita West, Wichita North, and Heights High Schools, Wichita, Kansas. He was a Public School Administrator at District # 249 Wichita, Kansas until he retired in 1996. Don enjoyed following and playing baseball with the American Legion baseball team which he was a member of the 1954 Class A State Champions, desserts even though they were not on his diet, playing card games, crossword puzzles, watching K-State games, Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs, loved his Chihuahua "Opal", spending time with his friends and family and especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Donald Olson was united in marriage to Tonya Kennedy on November 24, 2001 at First United Methodist Church, McPherson, Kansas. The couple established their first home in McPherson. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 19 years, Tonya Olson, of McPherson, Kansas; his son Kirk L. Olson and his wife Esmeralda, of Austin, Texas; his step-children, Becky Unruh and her husband Delmar, of Galva, Kansas, J. J. "Jamie" Heidebrecht and his wife Debi, of McPherson, Kansas, Kerry Heidebrecht, of Chicago, Illinois; his step-grandchildren, Hector Hernandez, of Fort Riley, Kansas and Samantha Rosas and her husband Leonardo, of Houston, Texas, LaTisha Brown and her husband Justin, of Fort Riley, Kansas, Tyler Unruh and his wife Jeanette, of Canton, Kansas, Holli Bird and her husband Chad, of Spring Hill, Kansas, Hanna Sommers and her husband Doug, of Wichita, Kansas, Heidi Heidebrecht and her fiancee Grant Tevis, of Plymouth, Minnesota, Kennedy Heidebrecht, of Overland Park, Kansas, Rilea Heidebrecht, of Overland Park, Kansas and Kolton Heidebrecht, of Overland Park, Kansas. He is also survived by 7 step-great-grandchildren, Liana, Zoe, Preston, Elyse, Connor, Wyatt and Emma He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter Dana Olson; his brother, Robert W. Olson; his sister, Gloria Ann Sylvester and former wife, Verona Olson. Graveside service will be held Friday, February 7, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the McPherson Cemetery, McPherson, Kansas. Memorial Service will be held Friday, February 7, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, McPherson, Kansas with Pastor H. Dick Reynolds officiating. Memorial contributions may be given to the First Presbyterian Church or First United Methodist Church and they can be sent to Glidden-Ediger Funeral Home; 222 W. Euclid St.; McPherson, Ks. 67460.