Harry L Olsen

Harry, who was our Dad, and a friend to many during his 89 years, passed away very peacefully, in God’s Great Hands, at Mother Josephs Care Center in Olympia, WA. Gratefully, he was only ill for 2 months, at which time both Providence St. Peter Hospitals’ and Mother Josephs’ employees provided him with excellent and compassionate medical care and treatment. During Dad’s last week under comfort care, he received the same love and compassion from both places.

Harry was born in Everett, WA, but he grew up in Thurston County’s Mud Bay area. He attended Griffin Grade School, which, at the time, combined grades 1 through 8. On 8/14/43, at 17 years old, Harry left Olympia High School, just short of graduating, to join the Navy with his good friend Lloyd Roberts. He attended Farragut Naval Training School in Idaho and became a Motor Machinists Mate Second Class, and proudly served his country on the USS Tutuila (ARG4) in the South Pacific during WW II. His work on the “Tut” was performing engine maintenance and repair on many hundreds of landing craft, tugs, mine sweepers, and other small vessels with internal combustion engines and was a vital support to the amphibious forces carrying the fight to the enemy held islands during the war. Dad was honorably discharged on 5/24/46 into civilian life.

On 10/24/47, Harry married the love of his life, Florence L. “Flo” Pennell in Olympia at Westminster Presbyterian Church on 4th Avenue. They were married for 64 years before Mom died in 2012. Dad worked hard all his life to support his family and to help others. He was a career truck driver throughout this whole period of time. He became Mr. Fixit too. He taught himself how to fix everything that came his way. He was truly a Jack of All Trades and a Master of Many! In the late 60s, Dad took flying lessons in Eugene, OR, upon the recommendation by long-time friend, Ed Miller, who already had his own pilot license. Dad took his first solo flight on 5/6/67. Flying his own Cessna was Dad’s favorite hobby for many years.

When the family moved back from Eugene in 1968, they lived in Tanglewilde in Olympia, in a townhouse apartment, then a duplex, and then Dad and Mom bought a house on Ranger Drive. By that time, all 3 of their young adult kids were moved out, not saying they didn’t move back in from time-to-time. LOL. Somewhere during that time, Dad purchased a wonderful vacant property on Black Lake in Olympia. We did a lot of day camping, cleaning and burning weeds from the lake and the land. Inside Aunt Dode’s camper we would play card games and Yahtzee and Eat! We also brought food and had campfires. Dad built a dock for us to jump off of and he bought a boat that he docked there. We swam, played games, sunbathed (Dad didn’t, he always had on his straw hat so he could avoid the sunburns while he worked

very hard around the yard). Dad and Mom hosted many birthday parties, swimming parties, weddings, luncheons, potlucks, dinners, and keg parties, the 4th of July fireworks celebrations, and the Black Lake Regatta every July, and our July family birthday parties all the years they lived there. Dad’s kids and nieces and nephews kept having more kids, and grandkids, and great-grandkids along the journey. A few years after Harry had the lot prepared, he had a house built there and Mom and Dad moved into it and lived there for 28 years, until Dad had to move Mom to Garden Courte Memory Care 4.06. Dad still hosted a smaller group of friends during the Black Lake Regatta and he brought Mom home for a few more of them too. Oh yes, and Dad painted that house once a year whether it needed it or not. “Mr. Perfection.”

In 9.07, Dad bought his last home in Eagles Landing in Tumwater. He proceeded to make his new low maintenance yard into a no maintenance yard when he moved in 9/07. He visited Mom every day in whatever nursing home she was in until she passed away on 2/13/12. Dad went to join her 2/3/15.

Lastly, Dad’s other favorite hobby, as you all know, was meeting old and new friends and having beers with them at many different taverns, bars, and restaurants, as well as in his homes with his wife. Some of the taverns were from a long time ago in Kent, Fife, Tacoma, Auburn, Seattle, Puyallup. In Thurston County, I remember the Evergreen Ballroom, Dad was an excellent dancer, the Maplebrook (and now Fatsos), the Wayside Tavern, the Westside Tavern, the Westside Bowling Lanes, the Eastside Club, the 4th Ave Tav, the Powder Keg Bar & Grill in Tenino, the Littlerock Tavern, the Boulevard Tavern, the Pub, now Hannahs (I think), Charlie’s Bar and Grill, and the Office Tavern. He was also a member and often visited the VFW post 318 Olympia, the American Legion Yuma, AZ, the VFW Tenino, the Eagles in Olympia and in Yuma, AZ, and the Elks Club in Auburn and Olympia. I probably forgot many.

Surviving Harry are his 3 kids, Sharon “Shari” Enger, Sally Grele, and Dale Olsen (Linda L.) He had 7 grandkids, 10 great- and 5 great-great grandkids. The family is not planning any services at this time. We will let you know later when we plan something. Thank you for all of your loving support and caring during our time of grief and sorrow. Please know though, that while we already miss Dad’s physical presence here on this earth, that you can take comfort in knowing for certain that Dad is now in heaven with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.