Janyce Marie Olsen

Janyce Marie Olsen was born January 19, 1941, to Louis & Rose Perreault in Terrebonne, MN. She attended kindergarten and first grade in Red Lake Falls and the remainder of grade school and high school in Rush City, MN. Professionally, Jan was a registered nurse, the majority of her life. She became a licensed practical nurse in 1970 after attending school at Century College and obtained her degree in Nursing in 1976 in Hastings, MN. Jan worked at the Lakeside Medical Center in Pine City since 1958, when she started working in the kitchen. She moved to nursing at Lakeside at some point in time and became the assistant Director of Nurses in 1975. From 1980 to 1992, Jan was the Director of Nurses at Lakeside Medical Center. She was a hard working nurse who believed in professional care for all patients. Jan treated the people she oversaw with fairness and expected everyone to do their job well! Outside of work, Jan loved animals; she would feed birds, deer, etc. She had compassion for animals that were hurt and unloved. She made many contributions to a local animal shelter. Jan was a generous person who loved her large family. For many years, she and Bud hosted the annual family gathering, (a picnic) at their home. Annually, Jan made fruit cakes and presented them to her 14 siblings, including one with nuts and no fruit for one of her brothers. Jan had a servant mindset; she worked in nursing all her life, and in later years Jan took care of her aging parents; Rose and Louie Perreault. Jan was often seen taking her folks to the casino, weddings, church and wherever they wanted to go. In the last years of Louie’s deer hunting, Jan was known to help him aim and even help dress out the deer. Although there was a retirement party, Jan never really retired, continuing to work Friday and Saturday nights at Lakeside. Her plan, when she fully retired was to take bus trips around the country and read. She had been a member of the Pine City Lions and the Red Hatters groups. Jan died Monday, January 17, 2011 at the Lakeside Medical Center, two days shy of her 70th birthday. Jan Olsen is survived by her father Louie Perreault of Lakeside Nursing Home in Pine City, siblings, Robert & Arlyce Perreault of Grand Rapids, MN, Lawrence & Rosemary Perreault, and Marlene & Jack Doenz, all of Pine City, Ruth & Harold Washenbecker of Rock Creek, MN, Gordon & Sandy Perreault of Rush City, MN, Gary & Kathy Perreault of Dallas, TX, Michael & Kathy Perreault of White Bear Lake, MN, William “Jack” & Darcy Perreault of Dallas, TX, Dr. Roger & Linda Perreault of Coon Rapids, MN, Dale Perreault, Jeanne & John Jacobson of Braham, Joanne & Steve Waters, Randy & Julie Perreault, all of Rush City, and Dick & Patty Perreault of Harris, MN; many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. Preceding Jan in death include her mother Rose Perreault, her husband George “Bud” Olsen and nephew Eric Doenz. Memorials are preferred to these non-profit/tax deductible organizations: Pine City Community Food Shelf – 220 7th Street S.W. Pine City, MN. 55063 or Guardian Angel Animal Shelter-32796 Beroun Crossing, Pine City, MN. 55063. Rev. Vicki Vander Vegt officiated at a memorial service; 11:00 a.m. Saturday (1/22/11) at the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City with a time of visitation one hour prior to the service. Music was provided by organist Glenna Reierson and soloist Joanne Cahill.