James L. Olson

James L. (Jim) Olson, age 67, of Tecumseh died at home on 04/11/2014 from lung cancer. It was Jim's wish to be cremated and no memorial service held. He asked for a remembrance and story-telling gathering of friends, family and former colleagues instead - no eulogy and hopefully no one with a microphone. This is will be held at The Great Overland Station, 701 N. Kansas Avenue beginning at 2 pm on Saturday, April 26, 2014.

Jim was born Feb. 7, 1947 in Eureka, Kansas, the son of Lee A. Olson and Doris D. Olson. After graduating from Eureka High School he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism followed decades later by a masters' degree in public administration, from the University of Kansas.

In 1970 Jim married Christina (Tina) Johnston in McPherson, KS. They had one son, Liberty J. born in 1975. Jim and Tina divorced in 1988. In 2001 Jim married Anne L. Stauch in Kansas City, Missouri. Jim is survived by his wife Anne L. Stauch of the home; son Liberty J.(Erin) Olson and granddaughter Rowan Olson of Portland, Oregon; siblings Cheryl (Robert) Hjetland of Topeka; Marsha (Russell) Coons of Lafayette, Colorado; Kristen Olson, Craig (Nancy) Olson and Kyle Olson, all of Eureka, Kansas.

Jim served as the executive director of the Community Resources Council (CRC) for 30 years (1975-2007) where he implemented the Emergency Aid Central File in 1985, one of the nation's first real-time, computerized multi-agency client record keeping system linking food banks and other emergency aid providers. In 2006-7 he oversaw the conversion of the records to MAACLink, an internet-accessible service. Under Jim's management the CRC supplied community agencies and decision makers with easy access to government and university-generated statistical information on population characteristics and trends, the retail economy, employment, education and health, along with local emergency assistance data. In 1997 CRC begin production of geographic information systems (GIS) data and maps as tools for analysis and visual representation of the community's geographic distribution of population characteristics, housing quality, neighborhood-level housing characteristics and trends, and the utilization of community services by geographic area.

Jim was proud to be one of more than a dozen local citizens credited with the launch of the Project Topeka Community Food Drive in 1986. The food drive is conducted each February to restock the major food banks in the community. Jim served on the food drive's community steering committee from 1986 until 2014, minus a post-retirement break in 2008.

In 2009, after a year of less than blissful retirement, Jim had completed the short-list of home projects for which he had either the competence or patience to tackle. His friend and former employee Vicki Whitaker gave him the opportunity to sit behind a desk again as a part-time office worker at the Kansas Society of Association Executives during the 2009 Kansas legislative session. This was followed by an opportunity presented by Max Wilson at PARS Topeka to carry out a six-month assignment under the direction of Sally Zellers at Safe Streets. Jim was grateful for both of these opportunities for gainful employment that provided a good excuse to avoid home repair projects and daytime TV.

In November 2009 Jim began work for the Topeka Housing Authority under direction of Sophie George and John Johnston. Jim got to pick his own job title, "senior operations adviser," a title he believed said sound classier than"geezer working on undefinable projects, without the burden of clear job responsibilities or authority." Jim thoroughly enjoyed the work and the employees at Topeka Housing Authority. Jim thought many issues and challenges should be taken seriously, as as long as you don't take yourself too seriously — or make the mistake of thinking that life is only about you.

Persons wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to contribute to the Project Topeka Food on line @ projecttopeka.org or by mail at 1315 SW Arrowhead Rd, Topeka KS 66604.