Julian Olson

Julian passed away peacefully after fighting pancreatic cancer for a year and a half. Julian has impacted many lives during his 80 years. He taught Industrial Technology at Central and West High School for 32 years. He loved woodworking and construction and taught all the areas except auto mechanics. The joy and satisfaction he received from getting students to enjoy learning and working with their hands was evident throughout his teaching career. Julian retired at age 55 and spent many years being a handyman for others half the day and playing golf the rest of the day. Golf was his passion and if he wasn’t playing well his favorite saying was “it’s a good day for a walk as I enjoy the beauty that surrounds me”. Julian was very intentional about helping others. He was always willing to help neighbors, friends, and community members through Habitat for Humanity, or serving community meals, and projects taken on at Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church. Julian and Trudy went on various Mission Work Trips sponsored by the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program. Julian’s knowledge of how to do something was appreciated by all who knew him. He was definitely a life-long-learner. When Julian needed to grab just one or two items from the grocery store, it was never a quick errand. He'd walk in with a specific list, then inevitably spot someone he knew—maybe an old student, a fellow church member, or just someone who looked like they might enjoy a conversation. Before you knew it, he'd be deep in discussion, swapping stories, offering advice, or listening intently to whatever that person wanted to share. An hour would fly by, and he'd return home with those original one or two items, plus a wealth of new insights and connections. For Julian, every interaction was an opportunity to learn, to connect, and to spread a little bit of kindness. Julian is survived by Trudy, his wife of 56 years, daughter Nikki (Troy) Cooley of Liberty, MO, and son Wade (Kristen) of Parker, CO. His grandchildren, Tepary and Omri Cooley and Kai and Macy Olson were a very important part of his life and he made a point of teaching them how to make things in Papa’s Shop. Julian and Trudy were very fortunate to have traveled many places with their family and Julian was proud to say he had visited 49 states. Camping and hiking in the mountains was a favorite activity and even though Julian disliked sleeping on the ground, he did it anyway. The yearly vacation with his family to Table Rock Lake was also a highlight. Please do not send flowers or plants instead show kindness to others on a daily basis. Memorial donations may be made to Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls, Habitat for Humanity in the Cedar Valley, or Cedar Valley Hospice. These are important organizations to Julian and Trudy. Julian has donated his body to the University of Iowa Deeded Body Program to further the education of others. The memorial service will be at Cedar Heights Community Presbyterian Church in Cedar Falls at 1:00 on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, with a reception following the service. The Memorial Service will be streamed at https://cedarheightspres.org/ The family thanks you for being an important part of their lives.

Julian Olson

June 3, 1944 - May 14, 2025