Obituaries

ANN MARGARET OLSON (Nee Johnson)

It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Anna Margaret Olson on Thursday, December 26th, 2024. Anna passed away after a brief illness at her residence in Winnipeg, at the age of 79 years.

Anna is survived by her daughter Kristen Olson and her partner Ron Kihn and her son Jeffrey Olson, and by close family friends Sid Wittmann and her husband Steele Pruden, her sister Susan Proctor (Nee Johnson) and Susan’s husband Brian Proctor, their children Brenda, Jeremy, Andrea, Erin and Jodi, Anna’s brother Grant Johnson and his wife Wenda Johnson (Nee Davidson) and their daughter Lindsay. Anna is also survived by many great nieces and nephews.

Anna is predeceased by her husband Gordon Robert Olson, her daughter Jennifer Lindy Olson and by her parents Ernest Johnson and Mary Johnson (Nee Stamper).

Anna was born in 1945 in Southampton, England and came to Canada at the age of 2 on the Queen Mary Ocean liner. She was a young bride at the age of 19 when she gave birth to her daughter Kristen and 2 years later had her son Jeffrey. Her husband Gordon was a High School teacher and Anna worked part-time as a receptionist and secretary learning essential printing and publishing skills. Gordon passed away in 1977 leaving Anna with a widow’s pension that allowed her to forge a path forward based on her creative and spiritual interests.

For many years, Anna became a skilled and passionate potter. She had her own kiln when she lived at her lovely home in Grand Marais, MB and attended many arts and craft shows in the beaches area. Back in Winnipeg, she continued renting kiln space at the Stoneware Gallery.

For the rest of her life, Anna was an avid and prolific writer. She published her own newspaper which was originally called the New Age Connection and was later renamed the Aquarian. This was an important “movement” in Winnipeg where a multitude of various non-mainstream, alternative health providers such as massage therapists, energy workers, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch practitioners, herbalists etc. could advertise their services. Despite the controversial nature of the paper, it was a huge success that brought together a vast community of natural and alternative healthcare professionals.

Anna simply yet passionately loved to write. She was often hired as an editor of other peoples’ articles and books; she offered and attended many creative writing workshops and was able to write and publish 2 of her own books. The first one is a booklet that helped her to grieve and heal from the loss of her toddler Jenny and it was called: Writing My Way to Recovery – A Tribute to Jennifer Lindy Olson 1985-1988. Anna’s second book was called Exploring the Mysteries of Life and Death. She had a heartwarming full-house book launch at McNally Robinson’s for this book. Several free copies of each of her books will be available at her service for interested friends.

Please join us on Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 at 1:30pm. Pastor Courtenay from Messiah Lutheran Church will be presiding over the service at Wojcik’s Funeral Chapel, 2157 Portage Avenue and refreshments will be provided after the Service.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The War Amps (Key Tag Service) www.waramps.ca

Deeply and forever missed and lovingly remembered.