Albert Wayne Olmstead

Albert Wayne Olmstead Albert Wayne Olmstead entered the presence of his Lord on Friday, August 7, 2009 at the age of 80. "Wayne," as he was known to many of his friends, was born April 7, 1929 in Battle Creek, MI to Albert M. and Esther E. (Heath) Olmstead. He began school at Verona Elementary, graduating from Bellevue High School in 1947. Wayne then entered Michigan State University, studying landscape architecture. The following year, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for four years as a design-engineering instructor, until June of 1952. In 1950, while still in the Navy, Wayne married Virginia M. Carlson, a native of Bellevue. They ultimately shared 58 wonderful years together. After leaving the Navy, Wayne worked various design-engineering jobs, ultimately finding a home with the Kellogg Company, where he worked as an engineer in the Equipment Development group for 28 years before retiring in 1990. In 1967, Wayne and Virginia moved their family to the Pennfield area, and soon joined Calvary Baptist Church, where they have been members for over 40 years. Wayne consistently orchestrated memorable vacations for his wife and their three children, and later, for their families as well. The entire family spent vacations together for many years, camping "up north," boating to the many lovely harbors on Lake Michigan, or simply taking day trips to various places of interest around the state. Most of the trips were chronicled by Wayne on video. He compiled and edited each family's individual videos, often adding musical background, creating "movies" that are cherished reminders of those precious family times together. Another well-known quality in Wayne's life was his green thumb. He greatly enjoyed working in his yard and flower beds. And his children will never forget helping their father plant hundreds of evergreen trees on their wilderness property near Kalkaska, MI. Wayne brought his love of nature indoors, as well, creating many beautiful paintings of nature scenes that he gave as gifts. He will be greatly missed by his wife ,Virginia; son, Drake (Jan) Olmstead; daughter, Tamara (Bob) Bosserd; and son, Mitch (Dena) Olmstead; and grandchildren, Nicholas and Laura Olmstead, Nathan and Jonathan Bosserd, and Holly and Hannah Olmstead. Wayne is also survived by a sister, Evelyn (Russell) Jones of Simi Valley, CA. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Virginia Sly, and brother, Dale Olmstead. Visitation will be at Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home on Monday, August 10th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Calvary Baptist Church (1625 Capital Ave. NE) at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. Burial will be at the Bellevue Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church.