Julene Olsen

Our beloved sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and neighbor, Julene Olsen, passed away on Saturday, November 18, 2023, in West Valley City, Utah from lingering complications from surgery. She was 73. Julene (Aunt Neen or Neenie as she was affectionately called) was born May 4, 1950, in Logan, Utah. She was the fifth of seven children born to Roy B. and Ileen Jackson Olsen. She grew up on a farm in College Ward, Utah, where she had a very happy childhood. She learned to work hard and play hard. Her siblings were her best friends as there were no close neighbors around.

She attended the local schools and graduated from Sky View High School in 1968 where she participated in band playing the clarinet. After graduation, she moved to Salt Lake City and started employment at JC Penney, then Surety Life Insurance Company. She was a very loyal and dedicated employee and was rewarded for her dedication of 25 years, having missed only 1-1/2 days of work the entire time. When Surety Life moved the company from Salt Lake City, she renewed her employment at JC Penney and eventually retired, except for a few years of working part-time with concessions at the Delta Center for the Jazz in the winter, and the Salt Lake Bees games in the summer until Covid hit.

Her hobby was crocheting, and she was an expert, having crocheted a bedspread, baby dresses, lots of baby shawls, afghans, the edging around baby blankets and burp cloths, and a jillion hot pads! She experienced much joy in giving most of this lovely work away, as she enjoyed serving others. She served in many other ways by taking her friends to church, to the grocery store, and to do other errands for them.

She enjoyed playing softball in her younger years, and she joined two bowling leagues, and bowled up until two years ago. Cooking was not her thing, and she loved chicken nuggets, so she let McDonalds do the cooking for her a few times a week.

She was a lifetime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She enjoyed her time serving as a service missionary in the Salt Lake Inner-City Mission. She served in all of the organizations of the church, but her favorite place to be was in the Primary with the Sunbeams or the nursery children where she loved them as her own. After receiving her temple endowment, she loved the opportunity to attend the temple. She sorely missed going after her health declined.

Julene had a deep love for her 27 nieces and nephews, and 80 great- and great-great-nieces and nephews, totaling 107, and they felt the same about her. She could tell you when all of their birthdays were. She had an amazing memory. She will be missed immensely, but we know she is free from pain and suffering and is beyond happy to be with loved ones, especially her parents. We love you Neen - until we meet again.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, and many uncles, aunts, and cousins. She is survived by her six siblings; Dallas (Janis), Myra (Gary) Chamberlain; Kent (Margaret); Shanna (Doyle) Zollinger, Luann (Doug) Pehrson, and Larris (Denise).

We will honor her on Monday, November 27, 2023, with a visitation from 9:30 to 10:45 and a Celebration of Life at 11:00 at the Decker Lake 1st Ward, 2101 West 3100 South, West Valley City, Utah. Burial will be at 2:15 in the Logan City Cemetery at 1000 North 1200 East, Logan, Utah, next to her beloved parents.

The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to her neighbors, ward members, and friends for their kindness and love extended to Julene. She loved you all. We would also like to thank her doctors, assistants, and nurses who were so kind and patient.

In lieu of flowers, please take your family for a meal of chicken nuggets!