Carl Fredrick Olesen
Marriages
Margie Mae Morris - July 29, 1944
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 7B Death Notice - December 10, 2016
Carl Fredrick Olesen, 94, Palisade, died Dec. 7, 2016, in Pali-sade,Services will take place at a later date.He was an educator and World War II veteran.Survivors include one son, Brian Eric of Palisade; two grandchil-dren; and two great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions to HopeWest, 3090B N. 12th St., Grand Junction 81506.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - December 11, 2016
Carl F. Olesen
November 9, 1922 - December 7, 2016
World War II veteran, Carl F.
Olesen, passed away in his
Palisade home on December
7, 2016, the 75th Anniversary
of Pearl Harbor. His son,
Brian, and daughter-in-law,
Judith, were by his bedside.
Carl was born in Gypsum,
Colorado, November 9, 1922,
to immigrants Christian
Olesen and Ida Beate Rakvaag
Olesen. He was the eldest of three sons. When Carl was a child,
the family moved to Denver, where Carl attended West High
School.
Moving to California, he worked building airplanes for North
American Aviation, which later became Boeing, in Inglewood,
California. Enlisting in the Navy in June of 1942, he completed
courses in aviation engines, gunnery, and navigation, and was
stationed in the Aleutian Islands where he helped defend the
islands from Japanese takeover.
In early June of 1942, the Japanese targeted the Aleutians,
conducting air strikes on Dutch Harbor, site of two American
military bases, and established military bases at Kiska Island
and Attu Island. During the war, Carl flew on the PBY-5
Catalina flying boats of PatWing Four Airdales, which served as
long-range reconnaissance aircraft, night bombers, and on airrescue
missions. He completed four night photo- reconnaissance
and bombing missions over Japan--"The Empire Night Express"-
-as a member of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Bombing Squadron VB-
139. He survived two plane crashes during his service. He was
the sole survivor of one accident, and one of three survivors of
the second in Casco Cove, Massacre Bay, in March of 1944. He
rescued the other two survivors by throwing them out of the
cockpit, the only piece of the aircraft that remained after the
crash, ahead of him. They were picked up by a P.T. Boat. Carl
was discharged from the Navy December 20, 1945 as an
Aviation Chief Machinist’s Mate First Class.
Carl married Margie Mae Morris July 29, 1944. Following his
service in World War II, Carl and Margie returned to Denver
where they had three sons. He worked alongside his father in
their cabinetmaking and upholstery shop. He re-enlisted in the
U.S. Naval Reserve in January of 1948, serving until September
1952 when he was honorably discharged.
Carl was a life-long learner and teacher. He received his
Certificate of Apprenticeship in Upholstering from the Colorado
State Board for Vocational Education in 1950, identifying him
as "an artisan of the highest order, a master of the craft--a true
journeyman." In 1952, he earned his high school equivalency
diploma from the Emily Griffith Opportunity School in Denver.
In 1962, when he was 46-years-old, he returned to school and
earned a Bachelor’s degree in secondary vocational-technical
education from Colorado State University. He then taught in
high schools around Colorado for 12 years.
From 1998 until his passing, Carl was the master mechanic
and jack-of-all-trades on his son’s two organic fruit farms. In
November, when he celebrated his 94th birthday, he could be
seen around Palisade on his ATV.
He is remembered by his son and daughter-in-law; brother,
Ken (Marilee); sister-in-law, Jean; grandsons, Chad and Clint;
great-granddaughters, Mariah and Leah; step-grandson, Nathan
(Ashley); nieces, Cretia and Jan (Jerry); nephew, David, and his
dearly loved next-door neighbors, 10-year-old Ayden (aka
"monkeyanic"), whom he taught mechanics, and 12-year-old
Jillian; and his adopted family of Leticia, Marisa, Adriana, and
Manuel.
Carl is predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Margie; sons, John
Christian (Chris) and Robert Alan; brother, Robert; grandson,
Chris, and parents, Christian and Ida Beate.
Arrangements are being made by Martin Mortuary. A
memorial service will be held in the spring.
Contributions may be made in Carl Olesen’s honor and
memory to HopeWest, Grand Junction, whose outstanding
Hospice staff provided caring support to Carl’s family.
