Bertil Oscar Olson

(1932 - 2015)

Bertil, "Bert," Oscar Olson passed away at the age of 83 on Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 7:30am at Brookdale Green Mountain Assisted Living in Lakewood, Colo.

He was born on June 11, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois to Bror Alvin and Estrid Linnea Olson. Both parents were Swedish immigrants. He had two brothers, Robert Alvin and Bror William, and one sister, Gunvor Linnea. He was preceded in death by his parents and both brothers.

He is survived by his loving wife, Seta, and their two children and their families. His daughter, Corinne Natasha Olson, is married to Steven Smith, and they have two sons (Remington, "Remy," and Everett). His son, Ryan Olson, is married to Mary Ellen Yates, and they have two daughters (Katharine, "Katie," and Elizabeth).

When Bert was six years old, his family moved from Chicago to Colorado where they eventually settled in Lakewood. Bert went to the Bancroft school as a child, then went to Alameda Senior High where he enjoyed playing football. He met many lifelong friends at both schools.

After graduating from high school in 1950, he enlisted in the Navy Reserves during the Korean War. He was stationed primarily in Kansas. After the Navy, he returned to his college studies at the University of Colorado and graduated in 1962 with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Before and during college, Bert spent his career in construction in various roles, primarily as a carpenter, working alongside his father and brothers. After college, he worked as a civil engineer for various Colorado companies and local agencies. Before retirement, he worked as a soil engineer for Denver International Airport. Bert took great pride in his work, completing his projects with integrity and precision. He took his job as an engineer very seriously and always had the safety of the public foremost in his mind.

He loved his family very much and enjoyed spending time with them. He loved going to his son's football games at both Green Mountain Senior High and at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Bert was a proud Buff fan. He enjoyed his daughter's dance and music recitals, as well. Once the grandchildren were born, he loved to be around them and watch the kids play.

His hobbies were reading books and visiting libraries, listening to NPR, traveling, and spending time with his family. He loved listening to music, especially Glenn Miller big band jazz, Lawrence Welk, and anything with clarinet. His favorite movie was "Singin' in the Rain."

Bert loved to travel visiting Hawaii, California, and New York in his younger years and going to Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, England, France, Germany, and all around the United States with his wife while in retirement. He enjoyed visiting his childhood home in Chicago and all the national parks in the western U.S.

Bert was a sweet, gentle, intellectual man. He will be greatly missed.