Obituary of Carl James Olsen

Carl James Olsen age 79, son of Carl O. and  Bertilla M. Olsen, passed away peacefully on November 21, 2024 with his loving family at his side. Carl suffered with Alzheimer’s disease for the past 12 years and was a resident at the Silver Bay Veterans Home in Silver Bay, MN. for the past 14 months.  He was born May 17,1945 in River Falls, WI.

Carl graduated from River Falls High School with the class of 1963. After high school he enlisted in the Air Force and spent six years serving his country during the Vietnam War.  After a honorable discharge in 1969 he earned his Bachelor’s Degree from UW-River Falls, WI. graduating in 1974. In 1975 he started his career with Andersen Corporation retiring in 2004 after 29 years of employment.

On June 2, 1973 he married his love, Betty Colvard, and they were blessed with three children.  Nyree Dawn whom they lost at the age of two years, Eric (Erin) of Woodbury, MN. and Jared (Sarah) of Cross Plains, WI.  He was also blessed with five amazing grandchildren, Aubrey of Woodbury,  MN,  Samuel, Benjamin, Evelyn, and Arie of Cross Plains, WI..

Carl enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing, golfing,  playing cards and watching football making many trips to Madison to  watch the Badgers and spent many hours on bar stools watching the Packers.  He was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church of Hudson, WI.,  Jim Falls Lions Club, Jim Falls, WI. and the American Legion of River Falls, WI.

Carl will remain in the hearts of  his loving wife of 51 years,  Betty ,his sons and families,  Eric and Erin and their daughter, Aubrey and Jared and Sarah and their family Samuel, Benjamin, Evelyn and Arie.  His three sisters, Linda Beckman, Balsam Lake, WI., Lorene Segerstrom, Yuma, AZ and Mary, (Edy) Velarde, River Falls, WI and one brother Gene, (Diane) Olsen, Cottage Grove, MN . and  many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.  He is preceded in death by his darling daughter, Nyree Dawn, his parents Carl and Bertilla, his parents  in-laws, Leo and Lorraine Goettl, his sisters,Barbara Scott and Donna Torkelson and brother, Robert Olsen,  nephew, John Torkelson and brother in laws, Tom Segerstrom and Rick Beckman.

The family wants to give a big, Thank You, to the Silver Bay Veterans Home for all the  patience and wonderful, loving care they had given Carl with his battle with Alzheimer’s.

Cremation Society of Duluth is  in charge of the arrangements.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 21, 2025 starting at 1:00pm at True North Ranch, Hastings, MN.