The Olsen boys came to Cono in the early 1960s from Peru, South America. Sam (left above) and Gottfred (right above) have recently passed and we post their full obituaries. They are remembered for their thorough work habits, their studious pursuit of knowledge, their joy and Christian faith. They represent the best of Cono graduates from a previous era.
Dr. Sam Olsen, Cono class of 1966, died July 2, 2023. He was born on August 15, 1946 in Peterborough, N.H. He and his twin brother, Gottfred (see below) were born while his parents were traveling on furlough from the mission field. Sam’s parents served as missionaries in Lima, Peru and Santiago, Chile for over 40 years.
Sam was a resident of Lima, Peru and Santiago, Chile until the age of 13. He and his wife Judy have lived in Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. They moved to Chattanooga in 1983, then to Dayton, Tenn. In 1986. They currently had resided in Athens, Tenn., having moved there in 2018.
Sam received his B.A. in Secondary Education from Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. He received his Masters of Divinity at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Ind., and his Doctorate in Pastoral Ministries from Temple Baptist Seminary in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Sam and Judy served with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism for nine years as church planters. He also served as pastor of three churches: First Baptist Church in Kewanna, Ind., a church plant in Austin, Texas, and Concord Union Baptist Church in Evensville, Tenn. In addition, Sam served a high school educator, choir director, assistant pastor, a Southern Baptist chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol, and a paint contractor. His deep love for God, for family, and for people, and his passion to teach God’s Word were evident in his life. He loved music and sang with The Men of Calvary quartet for 10 years.
Sam is preceded in death by his father, Ernest B. W. Olsen, his mother, Effie Johannsen Olsen, his stepmother, Eleanore Smith Olsen, his twin brother, Gottfred P. Olsen (see below) and brother-in-law, Galo Briones.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Judith Price Olsen, his children, Deborah Joy Olsen, Samuel John Olsen II (Rachel), Elizabeth Anna Smith (Travis), his brothers, Ernest Olsen (Carol), Wally Olsen (LaDean), Jonathan Olsen (Jodi), Bruce Olsen (Kristen) and his sisters, Marian Olsen Briones, Dorothy Olsen, 10 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
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Dr. Gottfred Olsen, age 75, Cono class of 1965, passed away on Saturday, October 23, 2021, in Dallas, Texas. He was born to Ernest and Effie Olsen on August 15, 1946, in Peterborough, New Hampshire. As missionaries on furlough from Peru, his family expected to welcome a fifth child, and unexpectedly were gifted with twins, Samuel and Gottfred.
Much of his young life was spent in Chile and Peru, as a child of a devoted missionary family. He attended boarding school in Iowa during high school, then studied psychology at Covenant College, during which time Gottfred and Kay met and married. While Gottfred was teaching psychology for the Army during the early 70’s, he was awarded an Army scholarship to dental school. He attended Baylor College of Dentistry, graduating in 1979. After serving as an active-duty dentist in the Army, Gottfred and Kay returned to north Texas, where he established a dental practice in 1985. He genuinely enjoyed his calling as a dentist, embracing every opportunity to care for his patients.
Gottfred and Kay devoted themselves to their community at Highland Oaks Church of Christ through the deaf ministry and, more recently, the men’s group. Gottfred served as a deacon for many years, then as an elder from 1995 until the time of his death. He served as a dentist for two medical mission trips to Nairobi, Kenya. Gottfred’s deep faith and love of Scripture anchored him and enabled him to face life’s challenges with hope.
Gottfred was an adventurous, open-hearted soul who loved his family deeply. His kind, calming demeanor brought joy wherever he went. He especially treasured time with his children and grandchildren, whether reading to them, cooking with them, or celebrating their accomplishments.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother, Eleanor Smith Olsen.
Gottfred is survived by Kay, his wife of 51 years; his daughter, Amy Hamilton and her husband, Jon of Richardson, TX; along with grandchildren, Michael, Kinsey, and Sarah. He is also survived by his daughter, Andrea Lam and her husband, Alan of Colorado Springs, Colorado; along with granddaughters, Marina and Siana. He is likewise survived by his siblings, Marian Briones (Quito, Ecuador), Ernest G. Olsen (Elkton, Maryland), Wallace Olsen (Fairbanks, Alaska), D’Anne Olsen (Attleboro, Massachusetts), Samuel Olsen (Athens, Tennessee), Bruce Olsen (Fontana, California), and Jonathan Olsen (Springboro, Ohio) and their families.
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