Jeffrey Olsen

Jeffrey Lee Olsen was a man of great talent and artistry. A gifted musician and craftsman, Jeff was a man committed tenaciously to his work. Although his life was marked by great struggle, it was equally marked by great triumph, and Jeff was the kind of person who lived his life in the pursuit of truth. The 1950s were an important time in America, as the economy thrived with the end of World War II and the Baby Boom began as soldiers returned home from the war. It was in this decade that Jeff was born, on April 7, 1956 in the bustling city of Muskegon, Michigan. Jeff's father, John Olsen, was an attorney while his mother, Mary Pangborn was a school nurse. Being one of 5 children, Jeff learned at an early age the importance of family. Alongside his three brothers, John, Jim, and Jo, and his sister Ann, Jeff enjoyed a normal childhood. The family lived in the Nims Neighborhood before moving to a house on Knollwood Court in the Beachwood area of Muskegon, near Lake Michigan. As a young boy, Jeff loved to spend time at Lake Michigan and climbing the dunes in the surrounding area. He went to Bluffton Elementary and Bunker Jr. High, followed by Muskegon High School, graduating with the class of 1974. Jeff had a lot of fun in school, despite the fact that he didn't particularly enjoy his studies. He took best to the manual arts, and even helped build a house in his senior year at high school. He had lots of friends at school, and he began playing the guitar at a young age, getting together here and there with friends to make music together. It was at this time that Jeff began to discover that his true passion was in the art of music, which would stay with him his whole life. After high school, Jeff and one of his good friends, Rob Schweifler, moved to Florida for the winter and returned in the spring. He and Rob had met playing pinball at the Campus Cove during high school and had formed a great friendship. After Florida, Jeff then did a very short stint in the Navy, but it turned out that Jeff didnt quite see eye to eye with them. Before long, Jeff was back in Muskegon, looking for his next adventure. In order to find work, Jeff got his welding certificate from the Skilled Training Center. He then went on to work at a number of companies through the years including Quality Tool & Stamp, Amstore and Lift Tech. Jeff was a talented welder and machinist, and typically took on the more difficult projects at work that were too complicated for others. It was not unlike Jeff to go above and beyond, reaching further than what was expected of him. In 1979, Jeff met Jan Williams while sitting on a porch swing at a party in Muskegon. She was from North Muskegon and worked at the Three Wished Toy Store in the Muskegon Mall. The two sparked immediately that night, and soon they were dating. In a whirlwind romance, Jeff and Jan fell quickly in love, and the couple were married on May 23, 1981. It was not long before the young couple began to grow their family, and they were delighted at the births of their three beautiful children. Their son Jeremy came along in 1982, Greg in 1985, and Michael in 1988. They first lived in a downstairs apartment on West Dale, and eventually bought the whole building. Their goods friend Rob and Jack Woodruff rented the upstairs apartment. Jeff and Rob soon started making music, practicing together for several years. They would spend hours in basements with other friends honing their skills and learning new songs constantly. They often would bring their guitars to local bars and play for free, or for the simple price of a couple of beers. Jeff also did occasional solo work, singing at weddings and other functions. On the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in 1983, they played their first official paying gig at J.P. Allens, calling themselves Out Of Control and the band was officially born. The band would grow in members through the years, with different people coming and going. Out of Control became one of the best known bands in the Muskegon area, playing for Parties in the Park and Summer Celebration. Jeff was a very talented lead and guitar player singer, with a style that could range from James Taylor, to B.B. King, to Carlos Santana. He was a gracious performer who pushed people to play their best, and loved to invite other local musicians to join him on stage with the band. He also played in some praise bands in local churches as well as in the pit orchestras for Muskegon Civic Theatre for several shows. In 1991, Jeff and his family bought a house on Montgomery, where Jeff did the upstairs remodeling to make more room for he, Jan, and the boys. Family was incredibly important to Jeff, and he loved to see smiles on the faces of his loved ones. As a family, they took trips annually to Owasco Lake in New York, to visit Jan's family. Jeff loved to go fishing with his sons, and there were great trips with the extended Williams family to Mexico, the Carribbean, skiing in Colorado, and a Disney cruise. To Jeff, being with family was the best way to spend time. Jeffs marriage to Jan unfortunately ended in 2000, which he took very hard. He began to have some mental health challenges along with alcohol problems as he struggled to adjust to a new life. He remained close to his boys, and his son Greg moved in with him for a time. He eventually moved in with his brother and sister-in-law, John and Brenda in Hamilton, Michigan. He joined AA and started going through some rehab programs, graciously seeking the help that he needed. He found work in a machine shop in the Holland area and made many new friends through AA. His sister-in-law Brenda was instrumental in much of his recovery. Sadly, Brenda died after a battle with cancer in 2010. Jeff stopped playing guitar for a few years, but then found his way back to his music. He played in a few praise bands in the Holland area and he and Rob got back together and played a few gigs. This last October, Out of Control had a reunion concert and Jeff seemed to be on his way back. In many ways, music was a saving grace for Jeff. Although he struggled in his life, the power of song always brought him back what was simple and so important in life. Unfortunately, the demons that Jeff had been battling returned to him, and this time he couldnt beat them. He died on July 4, 2011 at the home he shared with his brother. Jeff will be remembered for his dedication to familiy and to music, leaving behind a legacy of unwavering passion. He will be so deeply missed by his family and community. Jeff is survived by his children, Jeremy Charles (Casey Murphy), Gregory John, Michael Joseph; mother, Mary Olsen; sister, Ann (Tim) Pervinkler; 3 brothers, John Olsen, Jim (Kim) Olsen, Jo (Jean) Olsen; former wife, Jan Olsen; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, and sister-in-law, Brenda. A celebration of life will be held Thursday, July 14, 2011, 5:00-8:00 PM at Hagars Hideaway with a time a sharing and memories at 6:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Alcoholics Anonymous or the charity of your choice. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.