It was with great sorrow that I heard of Gary's passing at the NCSL Executive Committee meeting.  I met Gary through NCSL and we worked together with the organization.  He was a great guy and a leader I looked up to.  I still remember his and Teresa's surprise visit to my office in Annapolis one summer and his slyly noting that I kept a low profile.  My sincerest condolences to Teresa and the family.

Teresa and Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Gary was a wonderful person.  He will be missed greatly by everyone in his NCSL family.   Nancy Rhyme, Denver, Co

Despite the time and space between us, I'm still sorry to hear of the passing of Uncle Gary and for your loss, Aunt Teresa. For what it's worth, I hope for nothing but the best for you in what must be a very difficult time.

It is so hard to hear about a classmate passing. My thoughts and prayers are with  the Olson family as you go thru these trying times. 
 God Bless

I am saddend to hear of Garys passing. 
Gary was always a thoughtful, caring & considerate classmate at Mio AuSable High School.

To the Olson family, may God hold you in the palm of his hands during this most difficult time.

My sincere thoughts & prayers.

Dear Teresa,
We were so sad to hear of Gary's passing.  Hopefully memories of your years together, and warm wishes from family and friends, will comfort you at  this difficult time.  You have our deepest sympathy.

Dear Aunt Teresa,
I am so sorry. I hope fond memories comfort you and help you through the pain. I am sending you a big hug from afar.
With love,
Julie

I am so sorry to hear of your loss.  My thoughts and prayers are being sent your way during this difficult time.

Paul:

My thoughts go out to you and yours. The things we all must endure are truly difficult to carry.

Regards,
David K

To my dear cousin, Gary: Many of our experiences together happened when we were young. Thanksgivings in Fife Lake, playing endless card games like war across the floor spanning several rooms in the house your family lived in. Up in the attic of that big, white house watching the trains go round the huge track Uncle David had created. The snow on the lake always fell in abundance in November, way above our small statures and we easily built tunnels and forts our bodies could fit through in preparation for snowball fights or just hiding from our parents. Uncle David always iced up that ramp for us as we followed an Olympic-style obstacle course through the pine trees on our sleds and glided across the frozen waters of the lake. Oft times we would visit the local dump after dinner to see the bears that had come to feed. I was always grateful to be in the car! And, that one year we went to the local turkey farm to pick out the perfect main course for Thanksgiving dinner;  probably the first time I connected where those packages in the local grocery store came from. Up in Mio I spent a two-week vacation one summer when we went to the local fair watching things this city girl never got to see like log rolling, and eating treats like lollipops the size of our heads and the famous Hungarian Chicken and dumplings Aunt Emily cooked. Christmases were spent in Farmington, where the six of us (three Hund girls and three Olson boys) sat at our own table on Christmas Eve waiting for the adults in the next room to finish dinner so we could unwrap the heap of presents that awaited us under the tree, and finishing the night with Christmas carols while my Dad played the piano. I will cherish these memories forever. You were always the quiet cousin but being only one year older than I, we spent lots of time together. No one believes my story of about Naked City, including you, but I know it happened! I did whatever I could to get that easy laugh of yours going. It never took long. As we grew older, our time spent together was harder to come by, especially after my move to Florida. I was lucky to be at your wedding to Teresa and meet the woman who was your perfect partner. As you two walked out after the official union, the UM victors song escorted you down the aisle. You and Teresa were there for the Olson/Hund reunion in Traverse 13 years ago, when Roger and my Dad secretly plotted together and played out my most unusual wedding proposal in front of the entire family. What a party we had! It was no surprise to me that you were awarded the 2010 recipient of the Steven D. Gold Award that honors professionals who have made significant contributions to state and local fiscal policy. You put your heart and soul into your job, always thinking about what was best for the state you grew up in and loved so dearly. I was so thankful for the trip you and Teresa made to our house in Fort Lauderdale; that would be our last visit together. We had such a great evening together. You and Teresa were so inspirational to me as these last years of your life unfolded. You both showed such strength and courage. I am sorry not to be able to travel quite yet and be with the family today as they celebrate your life. I am, however, there in spirit, and you will live on in my heart forever. I will you miss you, Gary. All of my love to you and yours.

Although I knew Gary was battling melanoma, it still is a shock to have lost him so early.
In addition to being a great person, Gary epitomized the words "integrity" and "excellence". He was a good friend and a trusted adviser. I'll miss him tremendously.

To David, Emily, David and Paul, and Gary's wife, Teresa, and family, I am very sad to hear of the passing of Gary. The Olson families spent many days together in Ironwood and Mercer and we will remember all of those great times.  Donald, Arlene & Dennis Olson

Dear Teresa,

I am truly sorry for the loss of your husband, Gary. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I will always remember your kindness in letting me volunteer in your first grade classroom at Edgewood. I will tell Jimmy of your husband's passing. Our heartfelt symapthy is with you and your family.

Sincerely,
Cindy and Family

I am deeply saddended to learn of Gary's passing. I had the opportunity to work with him many times during our careers in the Legislature and found him always to be the consummate professional. He embodied the essence of a public servant and I was proud to know him. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends who knew him better than I.

Dearest Teresa we are so sorry to hear of Gary's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. With much love,

It took my breath away to ready Gary's obituary in the TC Record Eagle today.  I'm so sad for all of you.  To David, Emily, David and Paul, and Gary's wife, Teresa, and family, we send you all our deepest sympathy.  God be with you during these dark days and give you strength and comfort and hope. Gary was way too young.  Praying for you all.
With love from the Guys (and Kittis),
Susan Guy and family

Teresa,
We were so sad to hear of Gary's passing. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
The Liebl family (friends of the O'Briens)

Teresa and the Olson Family,
 Our deep and sincere sympathy for the loss of your loved one. May the love of family and friends carry you through. Our prayers go with you.
Tom & Pat Johnson

Gary was a good man and I felt honored to work for him at the Senate Fiscal Agency.  My condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

Teresa,
I'm so sorry to read of Gary's passing.  Prayers are lifted for you and your family.
Kathy, Andy Amy & Anna Sheufelt

Dear Teresa,

Our hearts go out to you & we pray for your comfort.

Sincerely,
Harold & Kathleen Sauer
Southport, CT.

Teresa, our sincere and deepest condolences for your loss.  Sending much love to you and your family. You will be in our prayers. ~Sheila Smalley and Family

Theresa:
  I was so saddened to hear of Gary's passing.  I first met Gary at an NCSL Management Development Conference in 1986 and was immediately impressed with his intelligence and ability to take complex issues and make them seem simpler.  Over the years, I admired his expertise, integrity, and devotion to government service.  Gary had a great sense of humor and was just generally a nice guy.  He will be sorely missed.  Please know that you and all of Gary's loved ones are in my thoughts and prayers - may good memories comfort you in this time of grief.

Holly Lyons
Fiscal Services Division
Iowa Legislative Services Agency

OLSON FAMILY  
     WE ARE DEEPLY SADDENED BY YOUR LOSS    GARY &SHIRLEY BLAMER


SADDENED BY YOUR LOSS

To Gary's family, we are so sorry for your loss. Although we never met Gary, his mentoring of our daughter while she was an intern in his department, was a highlight of her education and we were forever grateful for his influence. To Emily and Dave, your friends in Marquette send our deepest sympathy.

Paul and Family,

I am so sorry for your loss. You will be in our thoughts and prayers. Melissa Swims-Skiendziel

I am saddened to hear of your loss. You and your family will be in my prayers. Jerry Adair

Paul and Family,
Please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of your Brother and Loved One.  My Heart and Prayers are with you at this difficult time.  Fondly, Pam Baker

Our deepest, heartfelt condolences to your family for your loss...I knew Gary from Rotary Club.  You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Teresa.  Words seem so inadequate, but they are often all we have to offer in difficult times like this.  It was a real honor and pleasure to serve as Gary's Vice-Chair when he was NCSL Staff Chair.  He was a public servant in the truest sense of the term and I learned so much from him.  More importantly, I found him to be a man of integrity and concern.  The world will be a lesser place without him.  Diann and I hope that the warm memories you take from your life with him will sustain and strengthen you through your time of grief.

Teresa.  Terry and I regret your loss of Gary and wish I could write something comforting to you.  We have many fond memories of travels with you both.  Those of us in the state legislative staff community have missed him for years and sincerely mourn his passing.

Teresa; our thoughts and prayers are with you and the Olson family. Gary was a inspiration to all who knew him.

Teresa,

My prayers are with you and your family.  It was a pleasure to have known and respected Gary since we were first hired on with Senate Fiscal in the late 1970s.

Dale

Dale K. Nesbary
President
Muskegon Community College

Teresa, We are so sorry to hear about the passing of your husband.  Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you.  Susan and Morgan Carr

Teresa, our thoughts and prayers go out to you and the rest of Gary's family.  It was an honor to have worked most of my 20 years under his guidance and leadership.  He will be truly missed.

Joe and Karen Carrasco

Teresa, your OEA family extends our deepest sympathy to you and your family. You are in our thoughts....  

Okemos Education Association

So sorry for your loss.  Gary was a bright, kind and decent man and he brought out the best in the people whose lives he touched.

Hi Paul and family:

I am deeply sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in our prayers.

God Bless
Tom Bliesner

Teresa, our hearts and thoughts are with you. 
With love,

Our deepest condolences to Teresa and all family and friends of the Olsons.  I was a regualr reader of Gary's Senate economic reports and he certainly was Maize and Blue to the core.  

Kathy and Jim Ault

Paul and Family,
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Jackie Williams

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Thinking about you and sending hugs your way at this very difficult time.

OBITUARY

Gary S. Olson

June 29, 1955 – September 18, 2012

Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes

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