Charles “Charlie” Olesen

Obituary

Charles “Charlie” Henry Olesen was born September 29, 1943, in Hutchinson, Minnesota.  He was the son of Einar & Ann (VandeCasteele) Olesen.  Charlie attended Stewart High School in Stewart, Minnesota, and graduated with the class of 1961.  After graduation he attended Saint Cloud State University in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, to study English.

On October 1, 1966, Charlie was united marriage to Janice Hellickson at Big Grove Lutheran Church in Brooten, Minnesota.  They moved to Chicago, IL where Charlie worked for the Chicago Paper Company.  In 1973,   Charlie took over the family farm in Stewart and there he raised their children, Eric and Angela.

Charlie was united in marriage to Anne (Moore) Brazil on July 12, 1986 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, Minnesota.  They resided and farmed in rural Stewart and were blessed with a daughter, Emily.  They shared 13 years of marriage until, Anne passed away on December 31, 1999,  after a battle with cancer.

Charlie was employed at Hutchinson Technology Inc. in Hutchinson, and Universal Forrest Products in Litchfield, Minnesota, until he retired due to health issues in 2001. 

Charlie was an active member at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Hutchinson for many years and was a talented woodworker and artist.  He loved theatre, books, and in his younger years played guitar and accordion.  He was a model train enthusiast and loved to cook, garden and bird watch.  Later in life Charlie moved to Dayton, Ohio to be with his dear friend and partner, Ann Gimbert.

Charlie is survived by Ann Gimbert, his children, Eric (Nicole), Angela (Wes Huesman), and Emily Olesen (Nate Heilman), and granddaughters Jackie, Annika, Amelia, Elyse and Vera as well as many cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law, and friends.   

Charlie is preceded in death by his parents, Einar & Ann Olesen, and wife, Anne Olesen.