GLEN O. OLSON

November 1, 1921-May 11, 2015 Glen O. Olson, after 93 years of a remarkable life, peacefully passed away on Monday, May 11th at the Veterans Medical Center in Minneapolis, surrounded by his loving wife and family. Glen, the eldest of 3 sons and a daughter of the late Oswald and Jennie Olson, was born in Chippewa Falls, WI.

He spent his youth in South Bend and graduated from Central High School in 1939.

With the onset of WWII, in June 1942 he boarded a train to Chicago to enlist in the Navy Air Corp. During his flight training in Corpus Christi, Texas he was swept off his feet by a WAVE, his instrument flight instructor Mary Kay Mooney, and married Dec 6, 1944 prior to his tour of duty to Guam where he flew a PV-1 on reconnaissance and air support missions over the South Pacific. He was awarded the distinguished Air Medal.

After the war, Glen and Mary Kay settled in Chicago where Glen started his career in advertising, initially for VL & A and then Abercrombie & Fitch. In 1952 Glen joined the sales team for Carson Pirie Scott and was soon transferred to Fort Wayne, IN. During his tenure with Carson's, Glen perennially won the company's award as Salesman of the Year. With his successes came a promotion and in 1956 he and his young family moved to St. Paul. Following another 9 years in sales, Glen decided to return to advertising. He took a positon with the American National Bank in 1965 where he spent 19 years as Vice President and Director of Advertising and Public Relations and promoted to Chairman of the Board of Directors. Following his retirement from the banking business, his affable, charismatic personality made him a perfect fit to serve as Nordstrom's Goodwill Ambassador/ Concierge for many years.

Glen was well-known throughout the Twin Cities; by many he was known as "Mr. St. Paul". He enjoyed being part of any festive event; he played Santa to hundreds of kids for countless years, was MC for the World's Worst Irish Tenor Contest (which he originated despite the fact that he was 100% Norwegian). He rarely passed up a chance to be involved in the winter carnival or lead the St. Patrick's Day Parade as the Honorary St. Pat. His antics were often reported in the Pioneer Press. He was a long time member of the Norske Torske Klubben, the Question Club, Optimist Club, and an active parishioner at St. Rose of Lima for over 50 years. He loved golf, Notre Dame football, gardening, playing his drum and every opportunity to fish. Glen was the consummate humorist with a fun-loving spirit who loved to make people laugh. He was well-known and loved for the outlandish pranks and the numerous characters he portrayed.

Glen was a wonderful husband and father, a loyal friend, a kind-hearted humanitarian, generous to a fault and always there to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Laughter, love, optimism and devotion to his family were his way of life. He is preceded in death by his brothers Don and Gene and sister Margaret. He is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Mary Kay, his seven children, Tim (Liz); Ken, Chris (Leslie), Kate, Patty (Greg) Roedler, Mike, Dan (LuAnne), 12 adored grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Glen found no greater joy than making people happy and starting the day with a laugh or a compliment to someone. In honor of that sentiment the family requests you to do something kind for someone to put a smile on their face and brighten their day. Glen would like that and would cheer you on by saying, "stay on the bright side".

Visitation will be held at O'Halloran & Murphy Funeral Home (575 South Snelling Ave., St. Paul) 4pm-8pm on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Glen's life will be celebrated at 10am at the Church of the Assumption. Visitation 9am-10am at Assumption prior to services (51 W. 7th St., St. Paul) on May 21, 2015. Guests are encouraged to bring a written memory or picture to share, or via email at c.t.olson@comcast.net or facebook.com/glenoswaldolson. In lieu of flowers, a small plant for Glen's garden or donation to a charity of your choice in his name

02/18/2023 EJS