Carl Verner Olson

Carl Verner Olson, of Estes Park, died April 11, 2017. Carl was born in Brainerd, Minnesota on October 30, 1937. He was 79 years old. Elmer and Anna Olson raised him along with his two sisters, Doris and Edith, where he graduated from Pequot Lakes High School in 1955. MILITARY SERVICE He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, in September of 1955 and was sent to boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois. He went into the Aviation branch of the Navy where he qualified to attend Aviation Electronics School in Memphis, Tennessee. On completion, he was assigned to a patrol squadron (VP-8) in Quonset Point in Rhode Island. His job was to operate and maintain radar and other electronic equipment, where the purpose of their squadron was to detect and destroy enemy submarines. Being from a rural small town in northern Minnesota, the military seemed exciting at the time. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY Carl married Sandra Lea Metcalf from Loman, Minnesota in 1960 and were married for 56 years. Together, they raised three boys: Bruce (56 yrs.), Craig (52 yrs.) and Michael (49 yrs.), in the city of Blaine, Minnesota. His greatest hope was for his sons to be successful in their lives, to be financially independent and able to travel extensively. The activities he enjoyed most in life were: most sports, golf, skeet and trap shooting, traveling and doing home improvement projects. A great deal of family time was enjoyed in the boat; fishing, waterskiing, and cruising around the lakes and rivers of Minnesota. While the boys were young, he coached Little League teams such as baseball, football, and hockey. He was a Boy Scout and was involved as a parent, when his sons were scouts. CHURCH LIFE While raising his family, Carl and Sandra were members for 35 years at Peace Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. He served as an usher, church council and as a counselor. The family was regular attenders and Carl believed it was a stabilizing and positive influence on the family. Carl was baptized in 1938 and was confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota in 1952. WORK HISTORY •After military service and one year of college, he to work with Farmhand Company in 1959 at Hopkins, Minnesota. •While attending Brown, he worked with IBM in St. Louis Park from 1961-62. •He was then employed by Northwestern Bell in Minneapolis in 1963. •From 1964-67, he was employed by Control Data as an Advanced Design Technician. •Carl then went to work for American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T), in long-distance communications where he spent the majority of his career with AT&T from 1968-91. •He was employed with Potlatch Paper Corporation in Brainerd, Minnesota from 1991-2002. Carl and Sandra built and lived on Whitefish Lake near Pequot Lakes, Minnesota while working at Potlatch. In 2002, they retired and moved to Colorado to enjoy the beauty and mountain life of Estes Park. They have been members of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church since 2005. SURVIVED BY Carl is survived by his wife Sandra and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren: •Bruce and Beth and their sons: Grant and Luke. •Craig and Kimberly and their children: Olivia, Theodore, Brandon, Julia, and great grand children Joey and Lily. •Michael and Trudy and their children: Alissa and Noah. He is also survived by his sister Edith and her husband Bill. Carl is preceded in death by his parents and his older sister, Doris and grandson Nathan. Funeral Services were held at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Estes Park. Interment with full military honors by American Legion Post 32 were held in Lyons Cemetery in Lyons, CO Service Information Visitation Saturday April 15, 2017 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM 950 North St Vrain Ave Estes Park, CO 80517 Funeral Service Saturday April 15, 2017 11:00 AM 950 North St Vrain Ave Estes Park, CO 80517 Interment Saturday April 15, 2017 1:30 PM Please see Lyons Cemetery website Lyons, CO 80540