Gerald C. Olsen, age 75 of rural Potter, NE passed away at his home, Friday morning, April 4, 2014.
Graveside inurnment will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, April 10th in the Potter Cemetery, followed by a Service of Celebration and Remembrance at 12:00 noon at the Prairie West Church in Potter, with Rev. Betsy Galloway-Carew officiating. All are welcome to stay for the lunch to follow.
Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel on Wednesday to drop off condolences for the family and sign Gerald’s register book.
Memorial contributions may be made in Gerald’s name to the Sidney Regional Medical Center Hospice or toward a cancer research charity that the family is still deciding upon.
You may view Gerald’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.
Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Gerald’s care and funeral arrangements.
Gerald Clifton Olsen, the son of Gundhart and Ferne (Marsh) Olsen, was born on June 14, 1938 in Kimball, NE. He attended District 31, a country school, through the seventh grade and completed his schooling in Potter, graduating with the Class of 1956. Gerald attended Colorado State University studying Engineering before returning to farming and ranching south of Potter. On February 2, 1969 Gerald was united in marriage to Karen Ruth Cannell at the Light Memorial Presbyterian Church in Sidney. They made their home on a farm south of Potter where he remained up to his passing.
Gerald was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Potter, where he served as a board member. He had also been a board member of the Potter Coop and loved attending the many school activities of his children and grandchildren. Gerald loved the outdoors working as a Ski Instructor at Loveland Ski Basin during the winter months and was always up early for a trip to the duck blind, goose pit or for a pheasant hunt. He had been involved with Duck’s Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, loved his Labrador Retrievers, was an avid golfer and helped in the building of the Potter Golf Course.
Survivors include his wife: Karen of Potter; (1) daughter: Sada Hertzig and husband Brian of Kenmore, WA; (2) sons: Garrett Olsen and Jennifer Wilson of Sidney and Colin Olsen and wife Lee of Ann Arbor, MI; (3) brothers: Ron Olsen and wife Elizabeth of Vista, CA, Dain Olsen and wife Ruth of Potter and Chris Olsen and wife Eleanor of Sidney; (1) sister: Sharon Karnik and husband Ron of Gold Canyon, Arizona; (7) grandchildren: Josh, Jennifer, Jakob and Joab Olsen, Cecilia and Gundhart Olsen and Wesley Hertzig; (1) great-grandchild: Elliott Olsen and numerous extended family members and friends.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents: Gundhart and Ferne Olsen.