Jens Olsen was born on July 17, 1918 to Harald Villy and Alma Alvilda Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark. After a long and fruitful life, he passed away on February 15, 2016 in Portland, Oregon.

At the age of 6, Jens and his family immigrated to America and spent his childhood in Brooklyn, New York. With the onset of World War II, Jens joined the U.S. Army to fight for his newly beloved country. While stationed at Camp Kearns in Utah, Jens met his beautiful and soon to be wife, Marion. He then became a member of this nation’s Greatest Generation and served in the European Theatre of World War II. When he returned in 1946, Jens and Marion were married in Salt Lake City, Utah. The couple eventually moved to Walla Walla, Washington and raised 5 children. After his active duty in World War II, Jens continued to serve in the Washington National Guard and the U.S. Army Reserves for a total 22 years of combined active and reserve duty service. He achieved the high enlisted rank of 1st Sergeant.

Jens worked as a construction electrician for 40 years and taught the National Electrical Code at the Jr. College in Walla Walla. By virtue of his proud membership in IBEW Local 112 Electrician’s Union, he became a founding board member for the affiliate credit union known today as the Tri-Cities Community Federal Credit Union. Years later, the quality of his leadership as its first elected President led to the creation of the Jens Olsen Scholarship Fund, an honor of which he was decidedly proud.

From a very early age, he was an avid reader with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and a knack for writing. His love of words carried over into writing short stories and several volumes of our family history. His engaging personality, loving laugher, and tales about a life well-lived and a family well-loved will never be forgotten.

This wonderful husband, father, son, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend will be missed by so many. Preceding him in death are his wife Marion; son Conrad; brother Erik; and sisters Connie Larson and Else Connell.

Jens is survived by his daughter Diana Marchant; sons Kenneth and Carl Olsen; and daughter Marilee Snow, as well as 7 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
We love and miss you, Jens.

A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday, February 25, at 11:00am, at Omega Funeral & Cremation Service, 223 SE 122nd Ave, Portland, OR 97233.
Following this, a Military Honors presentation will be conducted at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland, OR 97086. Consecration of the gravesite will occur prior to interment.