Obituary of Robert A Olson MD

“With a name like Bob Olson you have to do things to stand out so people will remember you” was Bob’s gateway statement to his social, sometimes quirky but never boring life.

Born December 17, 1932, to Oscar and Ingeborg Olson in Windom, MN, the day Santa came to town, so he was less impressive to sister Elaine. His mother saw to it that he had piano lessons at a young age, and he continued playing all of his life. He was also a clarinet player in a band traveling southwestern Minnesota where he was the designated driver since he was the only one too young to drink.

Bob completed his undergraduate and medical school at the University of Minnesota. After graduation, he enlisted in the Navy and was assigned as the flight surgeon on the USS Midway aircraft carrier. He was stationed mostly in the Japan Hong Kong area and after 3 years with 3,000 men came back to begin a residency in OB/Gyn at Emory University at Grady Hospital in Atlanta Georgia. It was there he witnessed poor care for women and became passionate for women’s reproductive rights.

He married Constance Barr and welcomed son Geoffrey. After his residency they moved to Chicago where he was on staff at the University of Chicago Lying-in Hospital. A short time later they moved to south Minneapolis and welcomed son Matthew. The doctor did not make it for the delivery so Bob delivered his son and joked ever after that Matthew would be normal if he hadn’t dropped him on his head.

Bob and family moved to Golden Valley and soon after opened a solo practice in Golden Valley. He loved his patients and many of his earlier patients that he delivered became patients themselves. He loved to chit chat and put patients at ease, so he frequently ran late. He also taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He loved being active and was jogging before it became common, skiing which he was determined to master, swimming in lakes, pools and oceans and biking.

He married Christine Kroner on April 23, 1994. Together they traveled to 6 of the 7 continents and local trips with the Jaguar Club in his beloved blue XKE convertible. They welcomed and loved 5 wonderful grandchildren. After he retired (three times) he began a struggle with dementia which ultimately took his life. He remained a social jokester who wanted nothing more than to be remembered for his escapades. He charmed the staff at The Waters who affectionately called him Dr Bob until he died in his sleep on March 17, 2024.

Preceded in death by Oscar and Ingeborg Olson, sister Elaine Donaldson (Dick) and nephews Mark and David.

Sorely missed by wife Christine, sons Geoffrey (Jackie), and Matthew (Amy) and grandchildren Ben, Abby (Tony), Andrew, Tatum and Charlotte, sister-in-law Mary Ephardt (John) and several nieces.

Celebration of life in mid-May to share so many of the stories of his life.