Remembering Keith Olson

Longtime member Keith Olson passed away at the age of 79 on March 12, 2023, after a short illness. Keith was born and raised in Salina, Kansas. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in accounting.

While at Kansas State, Keith met the love of his life, Dea Brown, and they married shortly after graduation. The couple settled in Kansas City before moving to Topeka with their young children, Cami and Tyler.

In 1977, they moved to a beautiful saltbox-style home on Aylesbury Road and filled it with family heirlooms, including art, hooked rugs (many handhooked by Dea) and early American antiques. Dea’s background was in interior design, and stepping into their home was like entering a museum. Their collection of hand-blown vintage Christmas ornaments was magnificent.

The home has a large potbelly wood-burning stove in the living room, which was often used as their primary source of heat in the winter. Their yard was beautiful. On nice days, Keith and Dea spent hours planting, weeding and enjoying being outdoors together.

The Olsons loved to entertain, and on nice evenings in boating season, you could spot them out on their pontoon with a group of friends. Keith spent his career as a CPA and retired as a partner of Mize CPA’s Inc.

Keith and Dea loved their KSU Wildcats and were avid and generous supporters. They held season football and basketball tickets for decades and attended almost every home game with lifelong friends and neighbors.

They were involved in countless volunteer activities and were dearly loved in the Topeka community. Dea has relocated to Prairie Village, Kansas, to be near her daughter and family. Tyler and Tammy Olson reside in Florida. Dea and Keith were so very proud of their kids and four grandkids. They will be missed at Lake Sherwood, and we wish Dea all the best!

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