Maureen Valerie Olson

Maureen Valerie Olson (née Gove) May 15, 1957 – April 14, 2025 Maureen Valerie Olson (née Gove), of Verona, WI, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2025. She was 67 years old, though her spirit was timeless. Born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin on May 15, 1957, Maureen grew up as a beloved sister and default babysitter, known for being the most fun person her younger siblings could hope to hang out with. She was beautiful inside and out, well-liked by her classmates, a pom pom girl, and a choir singer at DeForest High School, where she graduated in 1975. Maureen had a creative soul, and her artistic talents found their way into everything she touched—especially her love for interior decorating. Whether she was house-sitting for her kids or her siblings, they would return to a sparkling-clean, perfectly re-arranged home that somehow felt both fresher and more like them than before. She had a way of making any space warmer, cozier, and more beautiful. She spent her career as a housekeeper, a job she genuinely loved. She took great pride in her work—every surface shined brighter after Maureen had been through—but her most cherished role by far was Grandma. To Sebastian (14) and Simon (12), she was the kind of grandma who made every holiday bigger and every snack pantry fuller. Even Santa got outshined by Grandma every year. She called dibs on babysitting the moment the family moved back to Madison in 2013, asking at the start of each month for “the dates” for her calendar so Adam and Susan could enjoy a night out (or, occasionally, get lovingly kicked out of the house so she could have the boys all to herself). She was dependable in ways that feel hard to believe. She picked the boys up from school so they didn’t have to take the bus. She cleaned the family house for years—professionally and proudly. She house- and pet-sat for weeks at a time when the family traveled, showering the pets with treats to the point that they were noticeably fluffier by the time everyone returned. In March 2013, when Susan went into labor early with Simon in the middle of the night, Maureen drove 3.5 hours through an ice storm to stay with Sebastian so that Adam could be at the hospital for the birth. She never hesitated. That’s just who she was—fiercely loyal, unwavering, and always showing up when it mattered most. Maureen’s favorite tradition was her annual trip to Door County with her sisters, mother, aunt, and sisters-in-law. They’d rent a cottage in one of the villages and spend their time eating out, shopping, going to plays, playing charades, and laughing late into the night. Those getaways were sacred—joyful, grounding, and full of love. She was a longtime fan of The Sound of Music, which she insisted on watching every Thanksgiving, and a devoted Milwaukee Brewers supporter, cheering them on year after year, win or lose. She is survived by her sons Lucas Smedema and Adam (Susan) Smedema, her grandsons Sebastian and Simon, and her siblings David (Janice), Kim, Suzanne, and Joel (Cathy). She also leaves behind her partner, Bill Paulus, and her beloved cat Paul. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ryan and Darlene Gove, an infant sister, Lori Lynn, and her brother-in-law, John Ihrig. The family would like to thank Ally Schauer of Bristol Hospice for her loving support of Maureen, and the rest of us. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you spoil your grandkids, sneak your pets a few extra treats, or just show up for someone the way Maureen always did—for no other reason than love. In accordance with Maureen’s wishes, a private family celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Maureen Valerie Olson

May 15, 1957 - April 14, 2025