Andy Olson Obituary

Olson
ANDY JAMES OLSON
October 28, 1948 January 27, 2021
Andy James Olson passed away on January 27, 2021 at Banner Medical Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born in Denver, Colorado on October 28, 1948, to Roger and Shirley Olson.
Andy is survived by his wife of 25 years, Peggy, dog Rocky, his step daughter, Jessi Jean (Hung Muhamath), sisters Cindy McKinley and Judy (Bob Cheek), 17 nieces and nephews, and an army of great nieces and nephews as well as great-great nieces and nephews.
To know Andy was to love him. His kind-hearted nature and gentle spirit was a gift to all who knew him. He would often say, "if you can be anything, which you can, why not be happy?!"
Andy was a 1966 graduate of Englewood High School CO. After studying business at Colorado State University, Andy went on to serve his country in the army during the Vietnam war. After Andy's military service, he worked in the banking business where he met his future roommate and brother-in-law, Bob Cheek and then went on to work with his father Roger renovating apartment buildings in Denver. After the sale of these projects, Andy moved to the mountains of Florissant, CO in 1976 where he, his brother Jeff and his parents built three cabins.
Andy had a variety of careers during his 45 years in the Florissant area. He talked of working at the sawmill outside when the temperature remained below minus 20 degrees for two weeks. After being snowed in at the cabin for numerous days, he told of skiing to Florissant, not for food, but for beer and cigarettes. He ran the Fossil Inn restaurant for a few years with business partner, Harvey Hoover. Many memories were made during this time at a restaurant that received accolades from radio stations in Denver. Andy was also a carpenter, handyman, landscaper, gardener, bartender, and caregiver.
Andy met and committed the remainder of his life to the love of his life, his wife Peggy, in 1994. Peggy was a package deal and came with her 4 year old daughter, Jessi Jean Cowan, whom Andy loved, cared for and raised as his very own daughter. They spent the rest of Andy's life on top of his beloved mountain in Florissant, or wintering in Queen Creek, Arizona. Together they enjoyed gardening, golfing, puzzling, Rockies baseball, and laying at the pool. They raised their daughter Jessi and in December of 2017 Andy walked Jessi down the aisle and officiated her wedding. Andy loved Jessi as a birth father would love their child.
Andy liked to live a simple life. Whatever Andy had or possessed, it was always plenty. He never wanted or lacked for anything. He was content in any and all situations. He was a kind, quiet, gentle and humble man. His demeanor was represented by his love of reading, gardening, golfing, and quietly watching the beautiful sunsets of the Colorado Rockies on his deck.
A celebration of Andy's life will be held on August 21, 2021 from 10:30-1:30 at his residence with a light lunch to follow.