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Obituary of Mark Leon Olson
Mark L. Olson, 75, of Greeley, died Wednesday, June 14 at Pathways of Northern Colorado in Fort Collins.
He was born on March 17, 1948 in Jamestown, New York, to Clifford and Edna (Himebaugh) Olson. He moved with his family to Lakewood, Colorado in May of 1961 and graduated from Lakewood High School in 1966. He attended Metropolitan State College in Denver and transferred to Colorado State University, majoring in speech and theater arts. He graduated in March of 1971. He received his master’s in journalism and mass communications from the University of Northern Colorado in the summer of 1991.
He married Rebecca Ann Drube on September 24, 1977 and lived in Arvada and Denver.
He worked for the Denver YMCA, Continental Laboratories and Castle Rock Printing before joining Aims Community College in 1982 as director of public information. After retiring from Aims in May of 2005, he became the executive director of the Greeley Downtown Development Authority for two years. He was an adjunct faculty member at the University of Northern Colorado and taught public relations techniques in the Journalism and Mass Communications department.
Notable achievements and honors include production of the first national YMCA audio visual program, creation of the Paragon Awards, the Community College Marketing Awards Program, and recipient of the D. Richard Petrizzo Award, the Kiefer President’s Award and several Paragon Awards. He received Director Emeritus status from Aims upon his retirement.
He was a devoted husband and loving father and grandfather. He enjoyed music, reading, public speaking, and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include Rebecca, two daughters, Bethany (Marc) DuBois and Cori Olson, and grandchildren Emily and Logan, all of Greeley.
His parents and brothers, Stephen and Jeffrey, are deceased.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, June 29 at 2 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 1800 21st Avenue, Greeley.
Memorial gifts may be made to Holt International or Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.
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