Gaylord Dean Olsen, 87, died Oct. 31 at Leisure Homestead, St. John.  Born Dec. 1, 1926 at Palo Alto County, Iowa, he was the son of Curtis and Inez (Larson) Olsen.
During his senior year of high school, he was drafted into the United States Army and served nine months in Germany during World War II. Upon his return from Germany, he began farming with his father. He married Donna Jean Alice Bratrud Aug. 22, 1949 at Blakjer Lutheran Church, near Fenton, Iowa.  They moved to a farm near Ringsted, Iowa in 1953 and remained there until 1978 when ill health forced him to retire to Graettinger, Iowa, where Donna was employed. The Olsens moved to Great Bend in 2005 to be close to their daughters.  He enjoyed fishing, golfing, pool, cards and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Donna Olsen, of the home; two sons, Danny Lee Olsen (Vickie), Des Moines, Iowa, and Mark Allan Olsen (Cheryl Hennig) of Atlanta, Ga.; two daughters, Diane Kay Olsen of Great Bend, and Coleen Mossberg (Phil), Great Bend; two sisters, Wanda Jacobson of Ruthvin, Iowa, and LeAnn Beaver of Calif.: two grandchildren, Trevor Olsen and Shannon (Mossberg) Kuehler (Shelby), and two great-grandchildren, Shyanna Kuehler and Sheridan Kuehler.  He was preceded in death by his brother, Gerald “Jerry” Olsen, and three sisters, Harriett Zitterich, Alyse Boyd, and Blanche Preston
A memorial service will be at a later date in Graettinger, Iowa. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. Memorials are requested to Golden Belt Humane Society or Trinity Lutheran Church, in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net


Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*    
1425 Patton Road    
Great Bend, Kansas    67530
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Nov. 2, 2014