Dean Oliver Colson

Born: June 20, 1937, Idaho Falls, Idaho

Passed: April 4, 2023. University Place, Washington, age 85.

Parents: Samuel John Colson and Vera May Edmonds Colson

Siblings: Robert Lee Colson, Charles Glover Colson, Maxine Louise Colson Brummett

Early life: Idaho Falls, Idaho

Growing-up years: Kirkland, Washington

Adult years: Bothell, Woodinville, Vashon, Bellevue

Education: graduated from Lake Washington High School in 1956 followed by the University of Washington.

Marriage and children: Dean married Ella Johnson Larrick in 1958 and together they raised three daughters Kimberly Ann Bodnar (Paul), Kathryn Sue Unruh (Loren) and Sara Colson Ahola (Jason). Dean and Ella parted in 1983.

Dean married Patricia Thompson Colson in 1986 and gained a step-daughter Laurie Patricia Robison and step-son Donald Robert Robison (Shelby). They celebrated their 37th anniversary shortly before his death.

Dean has ten grandchildren: Bryan Bodnar (Grace), Emily Choi (Eric). Meaghan Slusarenko (Tyson), Anna Sweet (Casey), Evan Unruh. Dean Unruh (Victoria), Henry Ahola, Sam Ahola, Cody Robison (Danielle) and Robert Riley.

Six great-grandchildren have joined the family.

Career: Dean began his career in residential home building under the mentorship of a master builder/developer while still in college and soon formed Dean Colson Construction, Inc which built fine custom homes and office buildings throughout the Puget Sound area including Seattle, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Bainbridge, San Juan Islands and Vashon. His career spanned over forty years

Throughout his career in building, Dean enjoyed creating beautiful homes for his clients, built from exacting architect-drawn plans. He also enjoyed the challenge of building from architectural drawings with fewer specifications. He loved figuring out how the design elements of a home would fit into structural and code requirements.

Dean also did some very notable restorations of historic residences and other structures. His favorite was a 1920-era home on the Bainbridge waterfront.

Retirement: Dean enjoyed having the time and energy for improving his own home, helping the kids with theirs, having time for some volunteer work, sports events and reading. He always wanted to stay active.

Later life: Dean suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and dementia caused by Parkinson’s Disease.

Other notes about Dean:

Dean enjoyed reading and researching Native American history.

He spent countless weekends and vacations hauling horses to shows or 4H events for daughters.

Dean became a horseman himself as an adult and participated in competitive horse shows.

Horses and dogs resided at the Colson homes in Bothell, Woodinville and Vashon.

Dean was a passionate sports fan: especially football, baseball and basketball.

He was known in some circles as “the anchor man on the eating team”, coined by close friend Dave Munger.

He was a notable football player and wrestler in high school, but never wanted his grandsons to play football.