Marlene Ida (Mach) Olsen

Marlene Ida Olsen (née Mach), age 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, on April 25, 2022. Marlene was born on March 25, 1938 in New Prague, Minnesota to James Benjamin Mach and Ida Anna Wilhelmina Beuch.

Marlene attended school in New Prague, and graduated from St. Cloud Hospital School of Nursing in 1960. Upon graduation, she traveled to Europe and worked on the Frankfurt Air Base in Germany for two years. After retuning to Minnesota, she married Robert Jarl Olsen on July 1, 1967 and lovingly raised two sons in Highland Park. She was preceded in death by her parents James and Ida Mach, and her brother Wally Mach.

Marlene was active in her church and served her community in many ways. Some of her involvements included teaching Sunday school for many years, and working on various church committees, fundraisers and fairs. Social outreach was a source of joy in her life; from teaching ESL to Southeast Asian refugees, to volunteering for Meals on Wheels and Habitat for Humanity for two decades. In adddtion, she was an avid student of Christian theology. She enjoyed understanding the history of places, and traveled extensively with Bob throughout the U.S. and Europe, which oftentimes overlapped with their love of birding. 

She will always be remembered as being a gentle and loving soul; for her grace, elegance, and hospitality. She was a beloved wife, caring mother, loving grandmother, kind sister and aunt, and consummate tea drinker. 

Marlene is survived by her husband of 54 years, Bob Olsen, and her sons Erik Olsen (Silvana Muñoz), and Paul Olsen (Kristina). In addition, she is survived by her three granddaughters, Serena Olsen-Muñoz, Simone Keha Olsen and Binah Keha Olsen. Also surviving is her sister Carol Benthein, brother Jim Mach (Mona), cousin Connie Sharlau (Bob), and her nieces and nephews. 

Our family wishes to thank Marlene’s caregivers for their devotion to her well-being, including the dedicated staff at Our Lady of Peace Hospice and former HealthEast Hospice. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 11:30 AM, with visitation one hour prior, at O’Halloran and Murphy 575 So. Snelling Ave. St. Paul, MN 55116. Interment at Hillside Cemetery 2600 19th Ave. NE Minneapolis, MN 55418. The memorial service will be live streamed and available at https://www.facebook.com/OhalloranAndMurphy. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the donor’s choice: Doctors Without Borders https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/, Union Gospel Mission - Twin Cities https://www.ugmtc.org/, or Our Lady of Peace Hospice https://ourladyofpeacemn.org/

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