This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Olsen, Brussell, Baldwin, Greene,Phipps, Tyrone Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UW.2ADI/2008 Message Board Post: Edwin Oscar Olsen Edwin Oscar Olsen was a well-known and beloved figure in Pescadero, whether serving on the school board or town council, or as the friendly face behind the meat counter at Norm's Market. "He was known to his customers for his great good humor and excellent listening skills," said Mr. Olsen's eldest daughter, Christina "Tina" Olsen of Brookings, Ore. Mr. Olsen died Nov. 12 at the Thornton Medical Center, part of the University of California, San Diego, Medical Center in San Diego, at age 86, due to congestive heart failure. He had gone to San Diego to be cared for by his son-in-law, Dr. Thomas Kipps, the center's chief of staff. "He left much the way he lived," said Mr. Olsen's daughter, "peacefully, with dignity and with the support and comfort of his family." Mr. Olsen was born at the end of the influenza epidemic of 1918 in San Francisco, the son of Oscar Edwin Olsen and Josephina Ana Coralina Brussell Olsen. He had two sisters. His father and grandfather, Olaf, were builders whose buildings still stand in San Francisco and Woodside; his mother's family included seafarers. Mr. Olsen was drafted into the army's Third Infantry Division just days before the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. He served for three years in North Africa, Italy and France. His division landed near Casablanca and, three years later, captured Hitler's Berchtesgarten. By the end of the way, the division had suffered 33,000 casualties. From the war, said Tina Olsen, her father learned he loved peace. He had been distressed recently when the Third Infantry had gone into action in Iraq. "That was really disturbing to him," she said. In 1950, he married Alice Lavelda Baldwin in Carson City, Nev. They settled in Pescadero in the mid-1960s and raised three daughters. Mr. Olsen served on the La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District board for several terms in the 1960s and early 1970s, and on the Pescadero town council for a couple of terms in the 1980s. He launched Olsen's Meats in 1965, selling meat at Norm's Market. Earlier this year, the Olsens moved to Brookings to be near Tina Olsen and her family. There, Mr. Olsen enjoying living near the ocean, reading constantly and visiting the local bakery. "He liked to go get a doughnut," said his daughter. In September, he went to San Diego. Mr. Olsen is survived by his wife of 54 years, Alice Olsen, of Brookings, his daughters and sons-in-law Tina Olsen and Donald Greene of Brookings, Janet and Thomas Phipps of San Diego and Mary Ann and Ray Tyrone of Cloverdale, and 10 grandchildren. He is also survived by a large extended family. "His well-lived life is illustrated by the quality of love felt by so many for him," said his daughter. "He will be remembered for his youthful spirit, his great sense of humor, his very good stories, his sharp mind, kindness, integrity and fairness." A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday Nov. 21, in Pescadero, at a location to be determined. The site will be posted at the Pescadero post office on Stage Road. Interment will be at Skylawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Olsen's memory may be made to the Ed Olsen Memorial Scholarship Fund at First National Bank in Pescadero. Scholarships will be awarded annually to a Pescadero High School senior who exemplifies hard work, integrity and kindness, Tina Olsen said. Wednesday, November 24, 2004 Half Moon Bay Review and Pescadero Pebble