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Judith “Judy” Olson

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Judith “Judy” Olson

Birth
Ludington, Mason County, Michigan, USA
Death
23 Nov 2019 (aged 79)
Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA
Burial
Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA GPS-Latitude: 43.0620399, Longitude: -89.4364721
Plot
Section 44, Lot 190
Memorial ID
View Source
Father's Name: Lt. Col. Alfred Plaenert
Mother's Maiden Name: Ellen Henschel
Place of Death: Madison Dane Co., WI
Place of Birth: Ludington, MI
Cause of Death: Dementia
Source: Cemetery Records

Excerpt from Cress Funeral & Cremation Service Obit
MADISON- Judith "Judy" Plaenert Olson, 79, of Madison, died on Saturday, November 23, 2019 after a long, courageous battle with Parkinsonism. Judy was born on February 23, 1940 in Ludington, MI, the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Alfred and Ellen (Henschel) Plaenert.

Judy attended the Madison Public Schools and graduated from West High School in 1958. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin and a masters degree in public policy from the LaFollette Institute.

Judy married her husband, Jim Olson, on June 17, 1961. Soon thereafter, they moved to Fort Gordon, Georgia, where Jim served in the Military Police for two years. Upon return from Georgia, in addition to raising their three daughters, Judy found time to assist in numerous political campaigns. She was a master organizer and her winning personality made her a great team player and leader.

When her children became teenagers, Judy ran for the Madison City Council and was elected and served for ten years, including two years as the City Council President. While on the City Council, Judy served on the Board of Estimates, Transportation Commission, Civic Center Commission, Common Council Organizational Committee, Madison Development Corporation Board of Directors, Quality and Productivity Steering Committee, Land Use Policy Task Force, and Senior Citizen Advisory Committee.

Judy served as Director of Economic Development and Planning for the City of Park Falls, Wisconsin, from 1992-1997. She was instrumental in the revival of the Forward Falls Initiative, the creation of a Business Retention Plan, and a Park Falls Park and Recreation Plan. Judy assisted the City of Park Falls in being awarded grants for implementation of a Tree Management Program and a Traffic and Signal Lighting Project, and the creation and implementation of a Park Falls Industrial Park. Judy provided counsel to a variety of business start-ups that led to fruition. She was also a senior Aide to Mayor Susan Bauman from 1997-2003. Her principal areas of responsibility were Sister Cities, Planning, and Transportation.

Judy was a voracious reader and an advocate for public libraries. She served for fourteen years as President of the Madison Public Library Foundation, a public-private organization to provide supplemental financing through fundraising. While serving as its president, the foundation provided funding to assist the construction of the Downtown Library, the Sequoya Library, the Ali Ashman Library, and the Pinney Library. Upon her retirement from the foundation, a fund was created in Judy's name to assist purchase of books for book clubs.
Upon retirement, Judy focused her time on her family, and every two years she and Jim took their grandchildren on trips to Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, Va., the Outer Banks, Yellowstone National Park, and Yosemite National Park. Jim and Judy purchased a cabin in Northern Wisconsin 48 years ago. Their children and grandchildren have spent many wonderful vacations with them enjoying beautiful Crab Lake and time together.
Father's Name: Lt. Col. Alfred Plaenert
Mother's Maiden Name: Ellen Henschel
Place of Death: Madison Dane Co., WI
Place of Birth: Ludington, MI
Cause of Death: Dementia
Source: Cemetery Records

Excerpt from Cress Funeral & Cremation Service Obit
MADISON- Judith "Judy" Plaenert Olson, 79, of Madison, died on Saturday, November 23, 2019 after a long, courageous battle with Parkinsonism. Judy was born on February 23, 1940 in Ludington, MI, the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel Alfred and Ellen (Henschel) Plaenert.

Judy attended the Madison Public Schools and graduated from West High School in 1958. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin and a masters degree in public policy from the LaFollette Institute.

Judy married her husband, Jim Olson, on June 17, 1961. Soon thereafter, they moved to Fort Gordon, Georgia, where Jim served in the Military Police for two years. Upon return from Georgia, in addition to raising their three daughters, Judy found time to assist in numerous political campaigns. She was a master organizer and her winning personality made her a great team player and leader.

When her children became teenagers, Judy ran for the Madison City Council and was elected and served for ten years, including two years as the City Council President. While on the City Council, Judy served on the Board of Estimates, Transportation Commission, Civic Center Commission, Common Council Organizational Committee, Madison Development Corporation Board of Directors, Quality and Productivity Steering Committee, Land Use Policy Task Force, and Senior Citizen Advisory Committee.

Judy served as Director of Economic Development and Planning for the City of Park Falls, Wisconsin, from 1992-1997. She was instrumental in the revival of the Forward Falls Initiative, the creation of a Business Retention Plan, and a Park Falls Park and Recreation Plan. Judy assisted the City of Park Falls in being awarded grants for implementation of a Tree Management Program and a Traffic and Signal Lighting Project, and the creation and implementation of a Park Falls Industrial Park. Judy provided counsel to a variety of business start-ups that led to fruition. She was also a senior Aide to Mayor Susan Bauman from 1997-2003. Her principal areas of responsibility were Sister Cities, Planning, and Transportation.

Judy was a voracious reader and an advocate for public libraries. She served for fourteen years as President of the Madison Public Library Foundation, a public-private organization to provide supplemental financing through fundraising. While serving as its president, the foundation provided funding to assist the construction of the Downtown Library, the Sequoya Library, the Ali Ashman Library, and the Pinney Library. Upon her retirement from the foundation, a fund was created in Judy's name to assist purchase of books for book clubs.
Upon retirement, Judy focused her time on her family, and every two years she and Jim took their grandchildren on trips to Washington, D.C., Williamsburg, Va., the Outer Banks, Yellowstone National Park, and Yosemite National Park. Jim and Judy purchased a cabin in Northern Wisconsin 48 years ago. Their children and grandchildren have spent many wonderful vacations with them enjoying beautiful Crab Lake and time together.

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  • Created by: Neil
  • Added: Jan 3, 2020
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205927094/judith-olson: accessed ), memorial page for Judith “Judy” Olson (23 Feb 1940–23 Nov 2019), Find a Grave Memorial ID 205927094, citing Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin, USA; Maintained by Neil (contributor 47710525).