Dr. Nicholas Andrew Olsen, 86, died Saturday September 3, 2022 at Ecumen Prairie Hill in Saint Peter, Minnesota.
Dr. Nicholas Andrew Olsen was born December 26, 1935 in Benson, Minnesota to Oscar Gerhardt and Elgie Johanna (Blixt) Olsen, the first of three sons. Nick spent his childhood in Benson where he was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and graduated with the Benson High School Class of 1953. Shortly after his graduation, his family moved to Robbinsdale, Minnesota.
Nick attended college at St. Olaf in Northfield, Minnesota, receiving his Bachelor of Art degree in Biology in 1957 and being named an All-Conference guard on the football team. He attended Officer Candidate School at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island and proudly served with the United States Navy for 3 years (May 1957–May 1960) where he spent time in the waters of Japan on the USS Henderson DD-785. He was honorably discharged in October, 1960. He then furthered his education by obtaining his Master of Arts (August, 1964) and his Doctorate of Education (December, 1973) through the University of Minnesota.
Nick married his wife, Joyce Elaine Berna Gustafson, on July 29, 1961 at University Lutheran Church of Hope in southeast Minneapolis. The union was blessed with three daughters, of whom they were extremely proud.
Nick had a 35-year career in education. He taught in both Lake Benton and St. Paul Minnesota before he went into education administration. He was an administrator in St. Paul, Stillwater and Cloquet before he was the Elk River High School principal for 24 years, retiring in 1997.
Nick’s Lutheran faith was important to him. He was a member of Central Lutheran Church in Elk River, Elk River Lutheran Church, and finally attended River of Life Lutheran Church in Saint Peter. He served his church in varying capacities, including church choir, various committees, and serving on the Minneapolis Synod Candidacy Committee for ten years.
Following retirement, Nick spent time doing those things he most enjoyed. These activities included fishing at his small cabin near Backus, MN, hunting for duck, pheasant, goose, as well as turkey hunting in ten states plus Mexico, ultimately achieving the “Royal Slam” of turkey hunting. The travels of Nick and Joyce took them to Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Norway, Israel, most U.S. Civil War sites, and other selected locations throughout the 50 states. He and Joyce were also avid sports fans, having season tickets to Gopher football, Gopher Men's and Women's Basketball, and Vikings Football and Wild Hockey, as well as attending Twins Baseball spring training for many years. Nick and Joyce also enjoyed all their grandchildren's activities, from football, soccer, tennis, basketball, and track & field, to theatre, band, choir, and speech. Following the passing of Joyce in 2017, Nick moved to Saint Peter and finished his life there surrounded by family and a welcoming community.
Nick is preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; daughter Laurie; parents Oscar and Elgie Olsen; in-laws Bernard and Norma Gustafson. Survived by daughters, Wende (Shawn) Davis and Cinde (Corey) Wiebusch; son-in-law Brent Wiebusch; grandchildren Brandon (Naomi, daughters Arya and Ryleigh), Brian, and Amy Davis; Kelsey (Maria, son Sebastian), Trent (Kristen, daughter Lucy), and Trey (Kaitlyn) Wiebusch; Ella, Sienna, and Josephine Wiebusch; brothers Gerald (Barbara) and Ronald (Paulette) Olsen; other family and friends.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Dr. Nicholas A. Olsen, please visit our floral store.