Ronald "Ron" I. Olsen

Ronald "Ron" I. Olsen, 88, devoted husband and father of four sons, died March 31 , 2025, of lung cancer at Renaissance Park Multi Care Center in Fort Worth , Texas. He was born March 2, 1937, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to Samual Olsen and Lorraine Koch Olsen.

Ron grew up in Chicago and graduated in 1955 from Bowen High School, where he was a member of the baseball team with his lifelong best friend, John "Jack" Moreland. Jack introduced Ron to Betty Lou Weigel, whom he married on June 27, 1959, in Chicago. Betty was the younger sister of Jack's wife, Lillian Moreland. Betty died on Jan. 20, 1999. Jack and Lillian also preceded him in death.

A U.S. Army veteran, Ron did not pursue higher education. But he used his typing skills, intelligence and work ethic to rise from an office worker to a port manager in the shipping industry for companies in Chicago; Toledo, Ohio; and New Orleans. He also managed warehouses for military contractors in California and the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

The shipping industry became his life, following his father, who was a tugboat captain. His older brother, Robert, also worked in the shipping industry and drowned when he fell off a barge in the Chicago River in 1962. As the shipping industry changed, Ron moved his family from the Chicago area to the New Orleans area in 1981. Chalmette, La. , was the family home base until their home was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina in 2005. That's when Dallas-Fort Worth became his permanent home and his youngest son, Todd, moved to join him in Texas.

While his boys were growing up, despite long hours at work, Ron spent hours playing doubles tennis with his sons - two of whom became successful high school players in Illinois and Louisiana. He was a devoted fan of his boys athletic and musical endeavors, attending their events whenever possible. He enjoyed spending time with his family playing board games and charades. He made sure his sons had access to college and post-secondary education to pursue their dreams.

He had a great sense of humor, loved to dance and enjoyed the music of Johnny Mathis. He also enjoyed watching his beloved Chicago Cubs play baseball. In addition to his wife and brother, Ron was predeceased by his parents, and sister, Joanie.

Ron is survived by his sons, Todd (Brandy) of Benbrook, Texas, who opened his home to care for Ron in the last years of his life; Douglas (Elaine) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Richard (Kathy) of New Orleans; and Dean (Theresa) of Springfield, Ill. Ron is survived by six grandchildren:

Stephanie Olsen and Crystal Olsen (Michael Welton) of Chicago; Kimberly Olsen (Alex) Rednour and Zachary (Maggie) Olsen of New Orleans; Kyle (Anna) Olsen of Athens, Ill . , and Daniel Olsen of Springfield, and three great-grandchildren: Addison and Blake Olsen of Athens, Ill. , and Jonah Rednour of New Orleans. Cremation services accorded by Neptune Society.