Arnold Olsoe Passes Away

On Thursday, June 7, 2012, Arnold Olsoe passed away at home, at the age of 80 years. The following is the obituary that is included on the funeral bulletin at today’s service at Community of Joy Church today.

Arnold John Olsoe was born on June 4, 1932, in Everett, Washington. He was the second of two sons born to John and Jonetta Olsoe. The family lived in Everett and on a farm in Stanwood during their childhood years. As a young man, Arnold learned the skills of carpentry as he built houses with his father and brother Edwin.

Arnold attended Seattle Pacific College before beginning Lutheran Brethren Seminary in 1953. After his first year of seminary, he served for two years as the youth director at 59th Street Lutheran Brethren Church in Brooklyn, New York. There he met Greta Lande. He returned to seminary and he and Greta married on June 14, 1957. Deborah was born in 1958, just before he graduated.

For the next 38 years Arnold served Lutheran Brethren congregations in Hagen, Saskatchewan (where Haidee, Charlene and Tonia were born); Huntington Station, New York (where Jonathan was born); Platte, South Dakota (where April was born); Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Federal Way, Washington. He retired in 1996. In 2002, Arnold, Greta and Haidee moved to Eagan, Minnesota to be closer to family.

Arnold was a faithful minister of God’s Word, eager to share the good news of Jesus Christ. He enjoyed interacting with people of all ages, from young children to the elderly. He was known for singing and playing his guitar. Both Arnold and Greta were actively involved in ministry, leading Bible studies and teaching Sunday School.

Along with ministry, Arnold and Greta prioritized family time with their six children: reading together, playing games and traveling. Vacation times were spent visiting relatives and camping in many areas of the U.S. and Canada. The family also enjoyed several trips to Norway.

After Greta’s death in June of 2010, Arnold moved into a senior living apartment. On Thursday, June 7, 2012, Arnold passed away at home, at the age of 80 years.

Arnold was preceded in death by his wife Greta; parents, John and Jonetta Olsoe and brother, Edwin Olsoe. He is survived by children, Deborah (Keven) Lunde, Haidee Olsoe, Charlene (Joel) Rogness, Tonia (Alex) Olsoe-Rubeo, Jonathan (Kara) Olsoe and April (Torstein) Holten; 14 grandchildren, Kari, Erin and Daniel Lunde, Eva (Jay) Trojanowski, Derek, Torey and Brittany Rogness, Sasha and Talia Rubeo, Katelyn, Julia and Jenika Olsoe, Isak and Victoria Holten; 2 great-grandsons, Peyton and Mason Trojanowski; sisters-in-law Clara (late Edwin) Olsoe and Mari (Roy) Eike; 9 nieces and nephews, Mark (Diane) Olsoe, Maylene (Trevor) Anderson, Myron (Karin) Olsoe, Manley (Janet) Olsoe, Margit Olsoe, Lindy (Stan) Freeman, Mark (Wendy) Eike, Brian (Susie) Eike and Ruth Eike.