John W. Olsen

John William Olsen, age 75, passed away on December 21, 2020, after a lengthy illness. The son of the late William Theodore and Gerda Marie (Jensen) Olsen was born on February 2, 1945, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the youngest of three children.

He graduated from Green Bay East High School, Class of 1963, and received an Associate Degree in Printing from Vocational School, now NWTC. For several years he worked as the printer for Brown County before becoming a partner in Ability Printing. After several years he bought out his partner, continuing the business until ill health forced his retirement. Being self-employed allowed him to be supportive of the athletic and musical activities of his children, serving as the president of the Green Bay Boy Choir.

While on a day excursion to Wisconsin Dells with a friend on a very hot June day, a chance meeting at the Biblical Gardens allowed him to re-establish a high school friendship with Denise Letts whom he married on June 13, 1970, at Grace Presbyterian Church in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

John was a member of First United Methodist Church, Green Bay, the Past Grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 19 and a member of the Green Bay Rebekah Lodge No. 185.

John is survived by his wife of 50 years Denise, their children Peter (wife Kerri) and sons Max and Sam; Robert (wife Melissa) and daughters Margaret (Maggie) and Ava; and Maribeth (husband Christian) Beck and son Alex and daughter Katelynn. He is further survived by sisters-in -law Ruth Henschel and Ann Olsen, nieces and nephews Michael and Peggy Olsen, Kay Olsen, Eric Besson, Susan Besson and John Jacobs, David and Sherry Besson, Paul and Amy Besson, numerous great and great great nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his father and mother-in-law A. Lewis and Margaret Letts, his brother Thomas Olsen, his sister and brother -in-law Karen and Donald Besson, a brother-in-law Wallace Henschel, his nephews Patrick Olsen and Mark Besson and his niece Amy Lafferty and her husband Garrett (Ziggy) Lafferty.

Visitation will be held at First United Methodist Church (501 Howe St., Green Bay, WI) Tuesday, June 22, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.; Odd Fellow Rebekah Service Tuesday, June 22, 2021, 4:40 p.m. Memorial Service Tuesday, June 22, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Please come prepared to follow the latest CDC guidelines for wearing masks in consideration of those not old enough to be vaccinated. The service will be streamed live if you are unable to attend. To access the Livestream, please visit www.fumcgb.org and click on "View Services on Livestream." Entombment was held at Fort Howard Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, memorial funds in John's honor have been established for First United Methodist Church, the Green Bay Boy Choir and Girl Choir and the Odd Fellow Rebekah Home Association. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.NewcomerGreenBay.com.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Odd Fellow Nursing Home who have become part of our family as they provided wonderful love and care to John over the past year and a half. Know that each of the staff has found a special place in our hearts.