Gayle A. Olsen

Gayle A. Olsen, 75, of Albion, NE passed away Saturday, May 28, 2022 at the Boone County Health Center in Albion, NE.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 3, 2022 at St Michael's Catholic Church in Albion, NE with Fr. Mark Tomasiewicz officiating. Burial will follow at St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, Albion, NE.  Visitation will be 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the church with a 6:30 p.m. wake service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Levander Funeral Home of Albion, NE is in charge of the arrangements.

Gayle Ann Olsen, the daughter of Jerald and Anna Pearl (Helt) Byrne was born on February 28, 1947 at Red Cloud, NE.  She was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Red Cloud.  Gayle attended Red Cloud Schools and graduated with the Class of 1966.  She went on to attend Central Nebraska Technical College in Hastings and graduated with a Business Administration degree in 1968.

On September 14, 1968 Gayle was united in marriage to Roger Alan Olsen at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They lived in Hastings until leaving for Jacksonville, FL in April of 1969, where Roger was enlisted in the Navy.  In September that year there were relocated to Key West, FL.  In September of 1971 they returned to the Navy Base in Jacksonville, where they stayed until December of 1972 when they moved back home to Red Cloud.  In 1991 they relocated to Albion, NE. Gayle worked at the Jacksonville National Bank, Key West State Bank, and the Webster County Bank.  She then took a job as Activities Director at Heritage of Red Cloud nursing home.  When they moved to Albion Gayle was the Executive Director of the Albion Housing Authority for 20 years, until her retirement in 2013.

Gayle was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Red Cloud, and currently the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Albion where she was also a member of the Altar Society.  She also served as a Girl Scout Leader and Youth Activities Director at Zion Lutheran Church, and belonged to the Stitchers Craft Club. Gayle loved to travel across the United States with Roger, also camping, and following her kids and grandkids activities and going to games. Her faith was so strong and she prayed all of the time, she always said "I have a list for God". She also enjoyed cooking, sewing, scrapbooking, playing cards and games with the grandkids, and loved to have family around and entertain.  Gayle loved to make cinnamon rolls, and balance her checkbook.  She enjoyed watching for Cardinals and always knew it was her mom visiting.  Gayle loved her family "to the moon and back", she told them this at every conversation, and they loved her too.  She would call every family member on their birthday and sing them Happy Birthday.

Gayle will be missed by her husband Roger of Albion, NE; four children: Tracy (Brent) Lipker, Amy Hooker both of Albion, NE; Jeri (Adam) Wies of Petersburg, NE; Scott (Jill) Olsen of Battle Creek, NE: 13 grandchildren: Amanda (Philip) Rasmussen, Michael, Jaxon, and Myah Lipker; Tristin, Reagan, and Preston Hooker; Karlie, Kaci, and Kenzie Wies; Taylor, Hunter, and Carter Olsen; three great-grandchildren: Collins Jade, Baker Blair, and Grant Wesley; sister Janice Kuehn of Heartwell, NE; sister-in-law Mary (George) Hendricks of Urbana, IL; along with nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; infant sibling; brother-in-law: Don Nelson, Erv Kuehn, and Lyle Olsen.