Kenneth Edwin Olson

Kenneth Edwin Olson passed away peacefully October 21, 2016, losing his battle with brain cancer. The Detroit, MI, native was born January 14, 1958, graduated from Ferndale HS and served in the US Navy in the late 1970’s. In his youth, he was an all-star football and baseball player and held the Michigan HSAA field goal length record at 46 yards for a number of years. Following his military discharge, he became a 5-star rated pastry chef and plied his craft at several major hotels & restaurants and, most recently, worked at JJ’s Bistro on Gate Parkway. He loved his work immensely. He enjoyed playing golf with his family and friends as well as rooting for the Jaguars and the Detroit Tigers. He is survived by his brothers Charles, Richard & William, his mother Cynthia Olson-Ward, his father William, his step-father Michael Ward, his wife Ruth (ne’ Cota), her daughters Kimberly & Rhonda, his Aunt Elaine (Jim) Kornecki, uncles Bob (Phyllis) Raver, Chuck (Sharon) Raver and several cousins. There will be a Memorial Service on Saturday, November 19 at 2 PM in Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin. Friends and family are welcome to attend. He is to be inurned and placed in the Jacksonville National Cemetery, 4083 Lannie Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32218. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the National Brain Tumor Society in Ken’s name. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223 (904) 288-0025.