Funeral service is May 31 for Craig Olson
May 27, 2008 - 10:07am — Nancy Huddleston
Filed under: School news -- Prior Lake-Savage Area Top Stories


Craig Olson, former principal of Prior Lake High School, died Sunday, May 25, at the end of a long and courageous battle with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease.

The visitation will be Saturday, May 31 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the gold gym at Prior Lake High School, 7575 W. 150th St., Savage. The funeral service will also be held at PLHS at 11 a.m. Light refreshments will be served after the service. Those attending the services are encouraged to carpool to the high school as a previously scheduled event will be taking place and parking will be limited.

District 719 Superintendent Tom Westerhaus visited Olson and his family shortly before his death on Sunday evening. On Monday morning, Westerhaus informed staff and parents of the news and reported that Olson died peacefully at his home, where he was surrounded by his wife, Mary Stuesser, their children, Bryn and Ian, and several other family members and friends.

Over the weekend, the school district made grief counselors available for staff and will continue to do so on an as-needed basis. PLHS students have also been informed of the death of Olson and grief counselors are also available to them.

Olson began as an assistant principal at Prior Lake High School in 1986. In 1992 he became the interim principal of Hidden Oaks Middle School. In 1994 he became the principal of PLHS. Olson took a leave of absence in October of 2006 after being diagnosed with ALS. His wife, Mary Stuesser, is a kindergarten teacher at Edgewood School.