James (Jim – Stampede) Steven Olson

Obituary

Passed on

February 1, 2025

“Jimmy O”

It is with profound grief, sadness and heaviest of heart I must announce the passing of

My Dear Sweet Jimmy! Jim is our beloved Husband, Dad and Papa and will be forever

loved and missed beyond what any words can adequately express.

Jim passed away February 1, 2025, at the age of 68, suddenly and very unexpectedly,

while doing what he loved best, driving his big-rig.

Jim leaves to mourn and cherish his precious memories, his wife, the love of his life,

Brenda-Lee Olson (nee Neufeld), his children, Wes Olson (son), Holly Marie Olson

(daughter & Steve Demkey), Sally O’Callaghan (daughter, & Navi Horsfield), Mac James Robinson

(grandson, Holly’s son), Kelvyn Robinson (honorary son, Mac’s Dad) as well as our

fur babies, Katie and Mishka. Jim is also survived by many family members from both

sides of our family to numerous to mention as well as his/our countless friends (you

know who you are).

As you all know, Jim tragically passed away February 1, 2025. Jim was on his way from

Georgia to Edmonton, AB when he suffered a catastrophic heart incident caused by an

enlarged heart just east of Regina, SK. We were, very sadly, unaware of this condition

he had as he showed no signs of anything wrong. That night, the weather was bad, the

roads were bad as a snowstorm was causing all kinds of havoc. Jim was planning on

getting into Regina and “park it” for the night. With an extremely heavy heart, I have to

say, he did not make it there. The medical examiner assured me nothing could have

been done. Even lf a heart surgeon had been there, my precious Jimmy could not have

been saved. She told me, “Your husband is a HERO! Jim should not have had any

control over his body at this point and he should, by rights, have crashed”. HE DID

NOT! He did pull the truck over to the shoulder as best he could, put the truck in neutral,

turned on his hazard lights, and with his foot on the brake, sat back in his seat and

promptly went to “sleep”. I have been assured, Jim did not suffer. I was told, his heart

just stopped. Liked flipping a switch. One minute you’re breathing, the next minute,

you’re not. It was that fast.

Jim started his working career at a very young age. If I recall correctly, he started

working at a local neighbourhood gas/garage station at around 12 years old as well as

attending school. It wasn’t long after, when his attentions turned to flashing lights first

with tow trucks and then added the sirens of the ambulance in 1973 with Les Baker as

his mentor. After awhile, Jim’s head was also turned by the lure of the elusive highway

and “Big Trucks`. This man, as I came to understand, always threw his whole self into

everything he did. Good, bad or indifferent (and everything in between) it didn’t matter.

Jim always did it with passion and his absolute best!

Over the years, Jim forged many friendships pretty much with everyone that ever met

him. He has been a great mentor, confidante and a personal “atlas” to so many. Even

the dispatchers have often had other drivers call Jim to get proper directions to just

about anywhere and any customer he had ever delivered to.. even if it was just once

that he had been there himself, he had it in his “bible”.. or just simply in his head

Highway numbers, exit numbers where the best place was to stop. He had it all.

Jim was known on the road as “Stampede”, “Jimmy 0” and my personal favourite,

Brenda’s Husband/Dance Partner! Many of you out there have referred to him as “The

Legend of Jimmy 0″ and I have to agree. Jim was loved and adored everywhere he

went. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it. Many times, he

helped someone, a family down on their luck, a bus full of young 20 year olds just trying

to get back home with a broke down bus. He would fill their gas tanks and fill their

bellies to help them get on their way. He truly was a modern day Hero in so many ways.

Rest easy now Sweetheart. You served your last call well. As always, you kept the

“Shiny Side Up!” right to the end! Let’s all raise a glass to my dearly beloved. And as

always:

My Dear Sweet Jimmy, I’ll see you in my dreams: I love you and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

G’nite Sweetie! I love you EVERY BREATH! Thank you for the Best 25+ years of my

life! You will always be my “Knight in Shining Armour”. “And remember Jimmy, I get the

first and the last dance of night. Keep your dance card open for me Babe”!

You are encouraged to arrive in your highway tractors if possible. I have been informed

you can park on Main St as it is a Sunday.

Funeral Services for Jim will be held February 23, 2025 at 13:00 hours (1pm) at the Stonewall

Legion 459 Main St, Stonewall, MB

Internment to follow at the Balmoral Victoria Cemetery after the service. Then return to

the Legion where we will celebrate “Jimmy O”

Ken Loehmer Funeral Services in charge of arrangements

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