Wendell Craig Olsen

Wendell Craig Olsen, North Logan, UT passed away on October 25, 2023. He was born in Logan, UT on
October 18, 1950 to Wendell and Margaret Olsen and was the oldest of four boys raised in Providence, UT.

Craig spent much of his youth at his Grandparent’s homes in Providence and Young Ward surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings. It was there that he felt most at home and forged his closest relationships. He spent many hours organizing yearly family reunions that allowed generations of his family to stay close. In his later years, he loved to visit his extended family and would often recall stories from his childhood. Craig was close with both his Olsen and Loosli cousins and was fortunate at one point to share a ward primary with 28 first cousins. His closest friendship was with his cousin Norm, who was apparently a questionable influence as an adolescent, but became one of his most loyal caretakers during his cancer treatments. Craig also enjoyed a closeness with his three younger brothers and their families who he loved, admired, and took great pride in.

Following High School, Craig served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Eastern Atlantic States Mission. The day he returned home he was introduced to Patricia Roskelley, and on September 7, 1973 they were married in the Logan, UT Temple.

Craig attended and graduated from Utah State University and spent nearly four decades working at ATK Thiokol, where he was affectionately known by his colleagues as Big Oly. He hated the drive over the mountain, especially in the winter, but took great pride in the work he and his colleagues performed and was grateful for many long-term friendships that he made at Thiokol. NASA presented him with the Silver Snoopy Award for his work with the Space Flight Program, which he assured his family was a major accomplishment, and which made him a hero with his grandchildren.

Craig’s greatest pride and joy came through his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren. Although a quiet and sometimes foreboding figure, he had a gentle heart and was a diligent provider and advocate for his family. He liked to claim as much responsibility as he could for good athletic genes within his posterity and was the self-proclaimed first Cache Valley native to dunk a basketball. A claim that has not been independently verified. He enjoyed playing basketball and on a family softball team with his cousins and brothers but was not pleased when a local journalist observed his play and referred to him as “Creaky Craig Olsen”. Later in life Craig joined the Logan Golf & Country Club and spent many years duff hooking drives and sorting through the yips to maintain a generous 16 handicap.

Following retirement Pat and Craig both dealt with significant health problems and became each other’s caretakers. She cared for him and nursed him back to health when he dealt with his initial cancer diagnosis in 2014. He returned the favor as she dealt with her own health struggles. When his cancer returned, and he was receiving treatments, he was always anxious to get back home to his “Gal” to make sure she was cared for.

He is survived by his sweetheart Pat, his children Jason (Melissa) Olsen, Jami Olsen, Natalie (Bryce) Wood, and Dylan (Katie) Olsen along with 14 grandchildren and his three brothers, Terry (Michael) Olsen, Gary (Jane) Olsen, and Cordell (Stephanie) Olsen.

Funeral services, under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary, will be held on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at noon, preceded by a viewing from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at the North Logan 16th Ward Chapel located at 1550 E 1900 N, North Logan, UT.

Funeral service will be livestreamed and can be viewed via the following link (passcode: Craig)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84830938075?pwd=SUVNekpYS0JyU1hSMEphVStBN3Bpdz09

Condolences and memories may be shared online at www.allenmortuaries.com