Debra Ann Olson

Debra "Deb" A. Olson, 60, of Mosinee, passed away peacefully after a courageous 16-year battle with glioblastoma on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her family.

Deb was born on March 23, 1966, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Dennis Hess and Diane (Kemmerling) Klein. She married Corey M. Olson on July 7, 2007. He survives.

Deb was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma in 2011 and was given a short time to live. However, she far exceeded that expectation. You would never have known she had cancer because she lived every day to the fullest while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She never let cancer slow her down, even on the hardest days. She kept going for her family and remained positive through it all. She radiated that positivity to everyone around her.

She was a loving wife and mother who was incredibly selfless and caring. She poured her whole heart into being a mom, always making sure her children were cared for, even if that meant working three or more jobs. She loved taking her children to Lake DuBay Beach when they were young and spending one-on-one time with each of them. She made sure they always knew how special and deeply loved they were. She was so proud of her children, and they learned how to be loving, devoted parents because of the example she set.

Deb always gave the warmest hugs and had a contagious laugh and smile that her family and friends knew so well. She made it a priority to bring the family together for holidays and never missed celebrating a birthday. Not a single birthday card was ever forgotten. She was patient, understanding, and made everyone feel heard, valued, and important. Deb was truly one of a kind, with a heart of gold.

She also cherished being Corey’s wife. Their love was evident in the way they looked at each other. They enjoyed bike rides, traveling, dancing to their favorite songs without caring who was watching, and spending time together playing cribbage, golf, bowling, bean bags, and countless card and board games. They loved boating, gathering with friends, and sharing meals at Pit Stop. They never took their time together for granted and always made each other feel loved and appreciated. Their love was truly one of a kind and will live on forever.

Deb loved soaking up the sun, whether she was sitting on her porch, relaxing at her patio table, or taking long walks with friends. She treasured the simple things, listening to the birds sing and watching butterflies flutter by. She also enjoyed working on butterfly puzzles whenever she had the chance to relax. Everyone who knew Deb knew how much she loved butterflies. Her home was filled with them, as they became a symbol of hope after her brain cancer diagnosis.

Deb worked as a Special Education Paraprofessional for 40 years, a role she carried out with tremendous passion. Everyone knew how much she loved the children she worked with. It wasn't just a job to her; it was her calling. She was fully invested and had a natural talent for bringing out the best in every student she worked with. Going the extra mile to see them shine and succeed wasn't an option for her; it was simply who she was. She took enormous pride in every milestone and achievement her students reached. No matter how big or small, she was their biggest cheerleader, and even on the toughest days, she never stopped believing in or caring for them.

She also enjoyed working in the middle school library for two years before retiring.

After graduating from high school in 1984, Deb began pursuing her bachelor's degree at Walden University. She later took time away from her education to focus on raising her children before resuming her studies in 2010. The following year, she was diagnosed with brain cancer. Faced with that challenge, she briefly questioned whether she should continue her education, but her determination quickly prevailed. She returned to her studies and, in 2013, proudly earned her bachelor's degree in psychology with a focus on preschool child development.

Deb is survived by her husband, Corey Olson; her children, Keisha (Reese) Anderson, Jessica (Jeremy) Ferrin, Rebecca Sandoval, Ryan (Emily) Bell, Sarah Olson, and Brittney (Nash) Schoff; and her cherished grandchildren, Naomi, Scarlett, Madison, Dawson, Joyce, Landon, Maisie, Emma, Braxton and Koah. She is also survived by her siblings Lisa, Tammy, Kris, Tiffany, Andrea and Julie and her parents Dennis (Merry) Hess and Diane (Francis) Klein.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 24, 2026, at Beste Funeral Home in Mosinee. Pastor Phyllis Smoot will officiate. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

In honor of Deb, the family invites everyone to wear bright colors or anything with butterflies on it. To leave the family a condolence or share a memory of Deb, visit www.bestefh.com.