Captain Carl Olsen
KEWAUNEE. Wis. — Captain Carl (Doc) D. Olsen D.V.M., 87, of Kewaunee joined our Heavenly Father on Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at home surrounded by his family.
He was born Dec. 1, 1920, in Calumet, to the late Carl G. and Helena (Johnson) Olsen.
Doc graduated from Kingsford High School and from business school in Iron Mountain. He graduated from Michigan State with a degree of Veterinary Medicine in 1951 and established a veterinary practice in Kewaunee, until 1957. He furthered his education at the University of Minnesota where he earned a degree of Master of Public Health in June 1958 and continued his career working with state and federal government agencies in various states. He retired in June 1979 after 22 years service with a Naval rating of Captain.
Carl married Rena Stefani on Feb. 7, 1942, in Iron Mountain.
Doc was a very active member of Holy Rosary Parish, serving in various offices, a member and commander of American Legion Post 29 of Kewaunee, served as Kewaunee City Alderman, worked as an E.M.T. on the Kewaunee Ambulance Service and drove school bus. His many interests included model railroading, avid gardener, a golfer with a dangerous backswing, a voracious reader, bowler, a fisherman (even though he didn’t eat fish) and a novice accordion player. He was an accomplished furniture builder and wood worker. When Carl retired to Kewaunee, he designed and personally built their new home. He further pursued his interests by taking an online electronics course and became a computer “geek.”
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Rena; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Linda Olsen of Cincinnati, Ohio, Carol and Dave Toennis of Cincinnati, Christine and Jim Zimmerman of Pulaski, Wis. and Karla and Jeff Ness of New Franken, Wis.; nine grandchildren, Eric, Matthew, Adam and Katelyn Toennis; Ben (Brittney), Rebecca and Monica Zimmerman; Doug and Brandon Ness; one great-grandson, Dominic Zimmerman; one sister, Grace Alpert of Milwaukee; two brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Corrine Olsen and Robert and Linda Toby-Olsen, both of Las Vegas.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Shirley Ranta, and a brother-in-law, Joe Alpert.
Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at Buchanan Funeral Home in Kewaunee.
American Legion Services will be held at 6:30 p.m. today and a parish wake service will be held at 7 p.m.
Visitation continues at the funeral home on Saturday until noon.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:30 p.m. at Holy Rosary Church with Fr. William Swichtenberg officiating.
Burial with full Military Rites will be in Holy Rosary Cemetery.
Go to buchananfh.com to sign guest book or send condolences.
Carl’s family would like to send a special thanks to Unity Hospice and Kewaunee Ambulance Service for their loving care and support.
The Buchannan Funeral Home of Kewaunee is assisting the family with the funeral arrangements.
