Janet Ruth Olsen

Olsen, Mrs.

Janet Ruth

Muskegon, Michigan

Janet Ruth Olsen, age 63, passed away Friday, April 28, 2023. She was born in Seattle, WA on May 5, 1959 to Charles & Nancy (Kelsey) Williams and graduated from North Muskegon High School, later attending Baker College. Jan had been employed as a Main Office Secretary for Muskegon High School for over 20 years. Her love for the students was unparalleled. She frequently volunteered to work the concession stand at athletic events, rarely missed a Big Reds football game, and even traveled from Muskegon to Detroit to cheer on her favorite team when they made the state finals in football. Even after players graduated, she continued to closely follow their careers at the collegiate level, no matter where they played.

Jan attended First Baptist and enjoyed working at music festivals. Jan was the Hospitality Chairman for the Muskegon Summer Celebration for many years where she was in charge of fulfilling all of the hospitality riders submitted by the bands. Many times, these riders were difficult, but Jan loved nothing more than a challenge and always pulled it off. She was also a board member of the Michigan Irish Music Festival and the first director of the Michigan Feis (state-wide Irish dance competition), which is still running today in coordination with the Irish Festival. "Mother Olsen" was her nickname around the festivals, and she fulfilled that "cool mom" role for lots of the young people who were involved. At festivals, her trusty minivan was usually packed to the ceilings with supplies; she was always happy to pitch in and help. Jan was also a member of the Lakeside Vets Club and enjoyed camping with her friends in the Upper Peninsula, as well as frequent trips to her parents' vacation home on Owasco Lake, NY.

Over the past few years, Jan volunteered to partake in cancer clinical trials at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. She had to trek to Detroit on a regular basis with the hope that her participation will help other cancer patients in the future. This was just another example of Jan's selfless attitude and a passionate desire to help others.

Jan had many loves-trips to Disney, making holiday cookies with her three nieces, her hometown of Muskegon, and the multiple cats she adopted over the years-however, there was no greater love than her three sons. Jeremy, Greg and Mike were truly her pride and joy, and there was nothing she would not do for them.

SURVIVORS

Sons, Michael (Chelsea Kirksey) Olsen, Greg (Alejandra Duran) Olsen of Alaska, Jeremy (Gina Khamo) Olsen of Lathrup Village, MI; parents, Charles Williams, Nancy Williams of New York; brother, Keith (Missy) Williams of Brooklyn, MI, Paul (Greg Alexander) Williams, of Washington, D.C.; good friends, Linda Zuidema, Kathy Cron.

SERVICE

A Celebration of Life will be held later in the summer.

MEMORIAL: Big Lake Humane Society, Big Red Marching Band.

Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.