Amasa – Joan P. Olson, 97, of Amasa, Mich., passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Iron County Medical Care Facility, Crystal Falls, Mich.

She was born on February 21, 1927, in Elmhurst, Ill., to the late John and Marie (Clemitus) Olson. Joan loved God, children, horses and nature. Her love of horses began as a young child. Growing up in the city in the 1930s many deliveries were still made by horse and cart. When Joan's parents couldn't find her, they knew she had hopped on with a kind merchant to take a ride behind the horses. She was a rodeo barrel rider, showed her horses, taught riding lessons and owned a horse boarding stable.

Joan loved nature and when the city got too big, she moved to the U.P. with her youngest children, making a home in Amasa. When she wasn't working with the horses or building/repairing fences she was hiking or cross-country skiing on the back forty and beyond.

Joan was famous for her pies, each birthday she would bake the pie of choice for the birthday person. Even though Joan's home was always full of her own children, she made room for all of their friends. She would say, there is always room for one more.

She is survived by five daughters, Patricia Ashcraft, Kristin McArdle, Catherine Swanson, Joan (Frank) Zangara, and Jennifer (Brad) Toivonen; four sons, Gerald Krizka, Joseph Krizka, Charles Krizka, and Thomas Krizka; grandchildren, Terri and John (Sue) Fassett, Cecelia (Erica) Zangara, Jessica (Stephen) Kennedy and Frank Zangara, Katie and Jim (Shannon) Krizka, Beth (Kevin) Bucek, Joan (Rob) Zyhowski, Susanna Toivonen, Will (Kristin) Toivonen, Laina Toivonen; great-grandchildren John & Charlie Fassett, Jackie (Tank) Harris, Victoria (Austin) Meise & James Ashcraft, Cole & Gracie Zangara, Vivienne, Addilyn, Emmeline Kennedy, Jayden & Camren Krizka, Theo Krizka, Madison, Caliana & Nathan Bucek, Anders & Liam Zyhowski, 9 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by daughter, Margaret Krizka; sons, John Krizka, and James Krizka; grandson Jim (Adelle) Ashcraft, sisters, Edna and Barbara, brothers, William and Leonard; and her favorite horse Sarcee.

Visitation will be from 9:30 until 10: 30 a.m., on Friday, May 9, 2025; at Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home, Crystal Falls, Mich. Prayers will be recited at 10:30 a.m., at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 a.m., on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, Crystal Falls, Mich, Rev. Fr. Daniel Dapaah officiating. Burial will be in Hematite-Amasa Cemetery.

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Joan's family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com

The family has chosen Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Crystal Falls, Mich., to honor Joan's legacy of life.