Michael Dolson

Michael Dolson, 72, of New Bloomfield passed away peacefully on Monday, January 30, 2023, surrounded by his loving family at University Hospital, Columbia. 

He was born March 30, 1950 in Kansas City, MO to the late Michael and Clarine (Knipp) Dolson.  After graduating from high school, Mike served four years in the U.S. Air Force.  On June 12, 1971, Mike married Sharon Denny at Christ the King Catholic Church in Kansas City.   Mike worked for the U.S. Postal Service for forty years in Kansas City and Columbia, MO.  He retired in 2009 as Maintenance Manager at the Mid-Missouri Regional Post Office Distribution Center in Columbia, MO.  They raised their family of four children and later moved to Jefferson City in 1992 before settling in New Bloomfield in 2006.    

Mike was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church having helped on several fundraisers including fish frys and the fall festival as well as sharing in the grass mowing duties at the church cemetery.  He was a faithful 4^th Degree Knight with Knights of Columbus Council #8400, Holts Summit.   Mike also volunteered as a lunch line server at St. Peter Catholic School and served meals at the Holts Summit Soup Kitchen. 

A long time Federally-licensed amateur radio operator holding the highest license grade of Amateur Extra Class and the FCC-assigned call letters N(zero)ZH, Mike was a member of the American Radio Relay League, Cole County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), Straight Key Century Club, Ten-Ten International, North American QRP CW Club, Flying Pigs QRP Club International, and Four States QRP Club, and Coordinator of the Mid-Missouri Skywarn Association. He was a past president and current board member of the Mid-MO Amateur Radio Club (MMARC) where he served in many capacities including Certified Volunteer Examiner, license class instructor, MMARC Net Manager, and Field Day Chairman. He was one of nine amateur radio operators throughout the world, and one of only two in the United States, to be involved with the International CARMELO Project which records meteor bursts in the Earth's atmosphere using amateur radio equipment.  An avid Short Wave Listener, he enjoyed monitoring foreign broadcast stations and unusual utility signals.  Mike was the first radio operator to contact the inaugural activation at Taum Sauk Mountain (our state's highest elevation) of the Missouri Summits-on-the-Air (SOTA) program. He had recently become interested in the hobby's Parks-on-the-Air (POTA) program and was looking forward to operating from Missouri's beautiful parks and recreation areas this coming Spring.  

But his real joy in life were his children and grandchildren.  His children all looked up to him and know they were blessed to have him as a father.  He and Sharon loved having family get-togethers with their grandchildren, always looking forward to Grandpa’s annual Christmas scavenger hunt.  In June 2021, Mike and Sharon celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary with all of their children and grandchildren, followed by a marriage blessing at mass.  The grandchildren range in ages from 4 to 19 and Mike was proud of each and every one of them, always telling stories to friends about things that were happening in their lives.  Mike and Sharon also loved going on vacations and camping trips.  They enjoyed retirement, visiting Nashville, Gulf Shores, Las Vegas, Colorado, and many other destinations together.  To the surprise of his children, he also recently became very fond of their little puppy Poppie.  Mike had not been a pet-person, but Poppie changed that, and Mike enjoyed snuggles with her as well as throwing balls for her to catch.

Mike is survived by his wife, Sharon of New Bloomfield, four children, Mark (Rhiannon) Dolson of Belton, MO, Rick (Amanda) Dolson of Ballwin, MO, John Dolson of Jefferson City and Pam (Doug) Starr of Jefferson City, nine grandchildren, Kali, Reese, Katie, Riley, Audrey, Ashley, Zane, Samuel and Gemma, one brother, Patrick (Teresa) Dolson of Las Vegas, NV, two nephews, Neal (Roxanna) Dolson of Lee’s Summit, MO and Steven (Melanie) Dolson of Gladstone, MO, and two sisters-in-law, Linda Denny of St. Louis and Alice Saubers of Shawnee, KS. 

Visitation will be Friday, February 3, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until Noon at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 400 St. Andrew Dr., Holts Summit, MO 65043.  The Mass of Christian Burial will begin at Noon with Reverend Roberto Ike officiating.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.   

Memorials may be directed to Knights of Columbus Council #8400, 400 St. Andrews Dr., Holts Summit, MO 65043, the Mid-MO Amateur Radio Club, 3210 N. Ten Mile Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65109 or the Holts Summit Soup Kitchen, 11877 Spruce Drive, Holts Summit, MO 65043. 

Services are entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes-Jefferson City. trimblefunerals.com