Sheila C. (Makela) Olson

Sheila C. (Makela) Olson, age 79, passed away peacefully after a brief illness at her home in Grafton, Wis., on June 12, 2026, with her loving family by her side.

Sheila was born June 20, 1946, in Stambaugh, Mich., to Reynolds and Dorothy Makela.

She spent her teen years traveling from Illinois to Michigan, specifically Camp Lake in Iron River, Mich. There she would spend her time helping her family build their cabin. Sheila finished her schooling and graduated from Waukegan High School in Illinois.

Sheila was able to marry her best friend and love of her life, Wayne C. Olson.  Sheila and Wayne started their family in Iron River, Mich., where they remained.  Together, they enjoyed life to the fullest through cribbage (during breakfast), snowmobiling, hunting, camping, Fourth of July picnics at the lake and any other game they could think of. What made these moments especially meaningful to Sheila was that they were shared with the family she created — some connected by blood and others who became family through the joys, love and memories they shared together.

Sheila and Wayne enjoyed doing some traveling, and in their later years they learned about their fascination for birds, specifically snowbirds, as they migrated every winter to a wonderful little home in Florida.

Sheila was preceded in death by her husband Wayne, daughter Wendy Olson and brother Richard (Butch) Makela.

She is survived by daughters Heidi (Wayne) Westphal, Lisa (Pete) Peterson and Amy (Chuck) Schmit, grandchildren Peter (Olivia) Lievense Jr., Haley Peterson, Nicole Peterson, Carter Schmit and Marisa Schmit, one great-grandchild, Alena Lievense, and multiple nieces and nephews.

Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron River, Mich., is assisting the family.

A private ceremony will be held at a later time.

Sheila will be immensely missed and forever loved.

The family would love to extend thanks to all her family, neighbors, the Village Pointe Commons staff and the Aurora Hospice Care team for all their compassion and care.