Don Olsen

Don was born in San Antonio, Texas to Bert and Fanny Olsen on June 16, 1930. His undergraduate degree was from Trinity University where he was a member of their tennis team. He received his master’s degree in library science from Our Lady of the Lake University. He worked in civil service at Fort Sam Houston as Chief Librarian of Patients Libraries of Brooke General Hospital at Fort Sam Houston, which he found to be the most rewarding library work he ever did. He retired in 1985. He served in the Army where he spent 16 months in Okinawa during his tour of duty. He was a charter member of San Antonio Ikebana Chapter #46 for 65 years and was involved with ceramics at the Southwest School of Art since 1985. He was a member of the San Antonio Potters Guild since 1995.

In addition to his parents, Don is preceded in death by his sister, Estelle Olsen Smolkovicz.

Don is survived by nephew Michael Quade and his wife Debbie, great-niece Stephany Williams, cousins Paul Skrobanek, Rosemary Hummel, Sarah Alexander Clark, and numerous other cousins and friends.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held at Sunset Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Hwy, San Antonio on September 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.

A military honor ceremony will take place at Fort Sam Houston on September 25 at 11:30 a.m. Arrangements are by Sunset Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to The San Antonio Potters Guild for the Don Olsen Scholarship Fund, 2186 Jackson Keller, Suite #1079, San Antonio, TX 78213.