Daniel Joseph Murphy Olson

Daniel Joseph Murphy Olson passed away on August 30, 2026, leaving behind a world with less laughter, but one that is infinitely warmer for having had him in it. Daniel had an incredible sense of humor and a gift for making people feel completely at ease. He could strike up a conversation with anyone, greeting the world with a ready smile, a twinkle in his eye, and a laugh that made everyone feel welcome. He was generous to a fault, always willing to give his time, money, or help without a second thought. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, and uncle who treasured his family above all else. Daniel is survived by his loving wife, Mary Olson; his children, Nick Olson (Makayla), Cora McKenzie (Zach), and Ben Olson; and his stepchildren, Erin Powers and Danny Powers. The son of the late Glen and Mary Kay Olson, Daniel was a wonderful brother to his surviving siblings, Tim Olson (Liz), Ken Olson (Elisabeth Paper), Chris Olson (Leslie), Katie Olson, Patty Roedler (Greg), and Mick Olson. He was also a proud Uncle to many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He was especially excited looking forward to welcoming his first grandchild in February. An avid-and sometimes livid-Minnesota sports fan, Daniel loved cheering alongside Mary for the Vikings, Timberwolves, Lynx, Wild, and Twins. They enjoyed attending games together as well as quiet days at their beloved lake cabin, where Daniel proudly captained the pontoon and they watched many sunsets. A natural athlete, he excelled at nearly every sport he tried, but golf was his true passion. He was also a dedicated member of his church community, and nothing brought him more joy than attending services to hear Mary sing in the choir. Daniel had a huge heart for animals, especially their much-loved dogs, Teddy and Xena, who brought him joy and companionship. After earning a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth, Daniel briefly worked in banking before finding his calling in sales. He could sell just about anything but found his greatest success in sports memorabilia. His natural charm turned cold calls into lasting business relationships, and many of his clients became lifelong friends. For the last four years, Daniel found what he called his dream job driving a special education school bus for Schmitty & Sons in the south metro. He cared deeply for every child and parent on his route, ensuring kids with autism, spina bifida, those in wheelchairs, and LGBTQ youth felt completely accepted and special. Alongside his aides, Daniel supplied books and toys for the kids and decorated his "fun bus" to make every child's birthday and every holiday memorable. When the kids stepped onto his bus, he didn't just bring them to school-he brought them joy. His dedication was recognized when he was honored as the #1 school bus driver in the state of Minnesota. In truth, we were all on Daniel's "fun bus," and he gave us the ride of our lives. True to his generous nature, Daniel was a regular blood and platelet donor, quietly spending many hours in the donation chair helping children fighting cancer. In a final, extraordinary act of grace, Daniel's gift of organ donation has saved at least four lives. To know that his legacy brought life and hope to others would have made him feel incredibly blessed. Special thanks go to the staff at LifeSource for helping make this final gift possible. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 15, at The Church of St. Edward, 9401 Nesbitt Avenue South, Bloomington, MN. Visitation will take place one hour prior at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at St. Peter's Cemetery in Mendota, MN. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be directed in Daniel's name to LifeSource (2225 West River Road North, Minneapolis, MN 55411) to support their life saving mission.

Daniel Joseph Murphy Olson

August 26, 1964 - August 30, 2026

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