Rev. Kenneth Olsen

1936 - 2017

Rev. Kenneth Roy Olsen died peacefully at his home in Lincolnshire, Illinois on April 20. He was the beloved husband of Susan Link Olsen and the loving father of David (Ann Stevens) Olsen of Tucson, Arizona; Dr. Jon ( Dr. Lynn Malanfant) Olsen of Woodstock, Illinois; Stephen (Denis Arguedas) Olsen of Piermont, New York; Karen (Jonathan) York of Winnetka, Illinois; Stepson Todd (Jamie Machala) Medland of Chicago, Illinois. He will be remembered as the loving grandfather to Eric Olsen of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, Hannah York of Winnetka, Illinois and his new grandson Trevor Medland of Chicago, Illinois; as the loving brother of Alice Gronwick and brother-in-law of Dorothy Olsen and uncle to niece Candy (Tim) Collins; his two great nieces Michelle Malo and Amber Olsen and nephew Ron Olsen. Ken was born at Lutheran Deaconess Hospital on February 7, 1936 and attended Chicago public schools. He graduated from Northwestern Medill School of Journalism in 1957 and was a graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology Chicago and ordained in 1962. His first call as a pastor was to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Aurora, Illinois where he served for ten years, after which he was called to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Illinois where he served for 13 years. He went on staff of the former Illinois Synod of the Lutheran Church of America and served as Associate Director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) Foundation for four years. In 1995, he was elected Bishop of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA. After retiring as Bishop, he worked with the ELCA Board of Pensions for four years. He became Interim Bishop of the SE Michigan Synod of the ELCA and served as Bishop on three separate occasions in that role. He served as Interim Pastor for Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Naperville, Illinois and Our Savior Lutheran Church in Arlington Heights, each for several years. Ken served as the President of the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago. He served also as Interim V.P. of Spiritual Care for Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He was gratified to be able to lead a group of people to Soweto, South Africa to build homes for Habitat for Humanity. Funeral services will be held at his home church, St. James Lutheran Church, 1380 N. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 10 a.m. The service will be followed by a reception. Please no flowers. Gifts in Ken's memory may be made to ELCA World Hunger, 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, Illinois 60631-4101. Funeral information, 847-234-4859.