Anthony "Tony" Olson

Anthony Peter “Tony” Olson was born in Marshfield, WI, in November 1969, to Graham and Georgianna Olson. Tony passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 2, 2025, at the age of 55 in Maple Grove, MN.

From an early age, Tony took to the role of being a big brother naturally. He was two years old when his parents brought his newborn brother, Andy, home. Tony instinctively took on a protective posture telling the world, “Nothing is going to happen to you little brother, not while I’m around.” From that day forward, the Olson brothers were the best of friends. Over the years their brotherly bond only grew. From knowing all the same movie quotes, sharing inside jokes, and never-ending brotherly banter, theirs was a bond that could never be broken. His father, Graham, would often say how happy and proud he was that his two sons got along so well, looked out for each other, and had so much fun together. Graham called their relationship his greatest accomplishment, and it was a relationship and friendship the Olson boys embraced their entire lives.

For Tony, the role of big brother did not end with his immediate family. His ‘brotherly reach’ extended far and wide amongst his friends. Always willing to provide guidance and support, his ability to provide timely pep talks was one of his specialties. If he could, Tony would have embraced his entire circle of friends and family with a halo of protection. It was in his DNA and simply who he was.

Growing up in Marshfield, Tony flourished in high school. Lettering in football, basketball, and baseball, he was a member of the National Honor Society and served as Student Council President. With a father who taught at the high school, Tony rarely stepped out of line. But when he did, Graham would inevitably find out. Tony quickly learned that staying out of trouble and following the rules was a recipe for success, and it’s a lesson he carried with him throughout life.

Ever the protector, when he graduated high school in 1988, Tony joined the Marines as a reservist while he attended the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Unsurprisingly, Tony flourished in the Marines as well. It turns out that a strong work ethic, combined with the ability to follow rules and take orders, are traits that suit Marines. While being a reservist isn’t always convenient, Tony enjoyed his time in the Corps. He attended Boot Camp in the summer of 1989 and Officers Candidate School during the summer of 1990. His reserve unit was called up in 1990 and sent to Iraq for 6 months during Desert Storm. Though his participation in Desert Storm delayed his college graduation by a year, Tony never regretted his time in the Marines. He received his honorable discharge from the Marines in 1996 at the rank of Corporal. Whenever he was asked about his time in the Corps, and particularly about his time in Iraq, Tony would say “It was an honor and a privilege to serve”. When asked if he would do it all over again, his response never wavered, “In a heartbeat.”

During his first year at UW Madison, Tony was selected to be a Bucky Badger. His personality and passion for fun made him a perfect fit to be a mascot, and he embraced that role to the fullest. As Bucky, he would appear at all types of UW sporting events to entertain fans and amp up the energy. Children are always drawn to Bucky, and nothing gave Tony more joy than seeing the smiles on their faces when he gave them a high-five, a hug, or posed for a picture when he was in costume. Creating positive energy and generating fun are the hallmarks of a mascot, and those traits instantly became a part of Tony’s personality. Known for pulling shenanigans to liven things up, he would sometimes be asked, “Tony, what are you doing?” His response would always be the same, “I’m the mascot. I’m the fun guy.” Truer words have never been spoken.

In addition to being a Marine and a Bucky, Tony also met his wife, Amy, during college. Amy, a wrestling cheerleader, and Tony, a Bucky Badger, were two peas in a pod destined for all types of adventures. Forever Badgers in their hearts, Tony and Amy were steadfast sports fans and particularly enjoyed Badger football games. Their mutual love for Badger sports culminated with their engagement at the 1994 Rosebowl game in Pasadena, CA. While Tony was not the Bucky on the field that day, he still took credit for the Badger victory as he was in the stands bringing the energy as only he could.

After graduation, Tony and Amy were married in 1995 and bought their first house in Madison, WI. With college behind them and their careers in motion, they set their focus on raising a family. Dating back to his time as a Little League instructor in Marshfield and his days as a Bucky, it was obvious to everyone that Tony loved children. When he told his friends and family that he was going to be a father, everyone could tell he was filled with joy. Tony and Amy welcomed their son, Cooper, in 2001. Fatherhood was another element that personified Tony, and he loved every minute of it.

Tony and Amy moved to Maple Grove, MN, in 2005. After a year of living in their new home, they had their second child, Madison, in 2006. Nothing put the glint in Tony’s eye more than talking about his children. He cherished them above all else, and his greatest joy was watching them grow up. Minnesota is well-known for hockey, and both Cooper and Madison fell in love with the sport. While Tony never enjoyed Minnesota weather, he embraced the role of ‘Hockey Dad’ and enjoyed all that came with the hockey lifestyle.

From hockey to orchestra, and everything in between, Tony’s life revolved around giving his children the opportunity to participate in anything and excel at the things they loved. Countless times, Tony would receive a text from friends or family asking him what’s up or how he was doing. Without fail, Tony would respond with multiple screens of updates about Cooper and Madison and their latest accomplishments. For Tony, life was never about him, it was always about everybody else. That was his most enduring quality.

To know Tony was to love him. When he entered the room, you knew he was there, and the room would light up. When you combine the loving friendship of a brother, the protective nature of a Marine, the enthusiasm of a Bucky, the dependability of a husband, and the tenderness of a father, you create a one-of-a-kind individual. Tony was that individual.

While he will be missed dearly, we can all cherish the memories and good times he provided throughout the course of his life. If everyone could take a small piece of the magic that made Tony who he was and add it to their own lives, the world would be a better place.

Information regarding visitation and services on June 11th may be found below:

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at the Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home (1010 E. Veterans Parkway, Marshfield, WI). The funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Mark Krueger officiating. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Marshfield.

Following the service and military honors at Hillside Cemetery, there will be a celebration of life held at the American Legion Post 54 in Marshfield. Please join the family to share your favorite story or memory of Tony. An additional celebration of life will be held at Rush Creek Golf Club in Maple Grove, Minnesota, on June 29th, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial donations be sent directly to the family. These funds will then be distributed to the American Legion, American Red Cross and other charitable organizations in Tony’s memory.

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