Gourdin Olsen

GOURDIN HERMAN OLSEN “OLY”

1941-2018

Gourdin Herman Olsen “Oly”, passed away at his home in Farmington, on March 16, 2018, due to Alzheimers disease.  He was born in the coal mining town of Standardville, Utah on November 30, 1941, a son of Herman August Olsen Allred and Alberta Rose Gourdin Allred.  He married Carol Gale on July 23, 1960 in the Manti LDS Temple.

Gourdin joined the U.S. Navy when he was 17 years old as a “kiddy cruiser”.  He served for 3 years on the USS Midway which is now a museum in San Diego.

As an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Gourdin served many years in the Scouting program. His career was spent as an Aircraft Mechanic at Hill Air Force Base where he became a supervisor, retiring in 1993.  Gourdin enjoyed building.  He built the home he lived in and a cabin.  He was an avid runner and ran many marathons including the Boston Marathon.  He ran his last marathon at age 73.  He was also a Mountain Man known as “Running Dog”.

Gourdin is survived by his wife, Carol; children, Tracy Anderson (Scott), Kirk Olsen (Lisa), Clark Olsen (Nancy), Chad Olsen (Dee) and Heidi Christensen (Blake); sister, Virginia Strasburg Holmstead; 15 grandchildren and 5 great- grandchildren.  Preceded in death by his parents; two  sisters, Betty June Tanner and Madeline Jean Harward.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at the Farmington 1st Ward (Rock Chapel) 272 N. Main St., Farmington, UT.  Family and friends may visit on Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary, 727 N. 400 E. Bountiful and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the service on Wednesday.  The family wishes to thank all the caregivers for the very special care they gave to Gourdin.