John Maiben Olsen

John Maiben Olsen age 83 of Vernal, Utah passed away at his home on January 17,2025. John was born on November 16, 1941 in Mount Pleasant, Utah to Caratat (John) and Dona Draper Olsen. John moved to Vernal in 1958 from Sunnyside, Utah looking for work and never left. John married his sweetheart Kaylean Richardson in Vernal and later their marriage was solemnized in the Manti Temple.

 Dad became a heavy equipment operator running dozers and graders it truly was his passion. He could tell you every road he built or plowed, every oil field location he built and who he was working for when he did it and if someone was working with him who it was. He liked working for Jackson Construction and probably would have never retired if he wouldn’t have gotten old. Dad had many work-related hobbies such as welding, cement work, building cedar lamps and leather work. On rare occasions he enjoyed fishing and target shooting in his his younger years he loved horseback riding and hunting deer and elk.

 Dad was a teller of stories he loved to share stories of his youth and stories of family members and their history as well as how they enriched his life. He enjoyed sharing stories with whom ever came to visit. Dad loved sharing his life’s stories. Our sweet mother spoiled our dad and then left too soon leaving us the task of helping him live without her for the last 13 years. 

John is survived by his daughters Donnetta (Richard) Powell of Vernal, Utah, Kelly (Clay) Horrocks of Neola, Utah, Sherrel (Tyrone) Thomas of Hyrum, Utah and his son Tyler (Nina) Olsen of Vernal, Utah. His sister Marjorie (Wayne) Lindsey of Payson, Utah, and brother Burt Micheal ( Anita) Olsen of Murray, Utah, 16 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and two on the way. John was proceeded in death by his wife of 49 years Kaylean Richardson Olsen, daughter Shauna Kay Karren, son in law Mark Alan Karren, parents John and Dona Olsen and in laws Archie and Rose Richardson. We’d like to give a special thanks to the wonderful people at Good Shepherd hospice care. At dad’s request a graveside service will be held at the Jensen Cemetery.

Graveside Services will be held Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 11 am at the Jensen Cemetery. A visitation will be held Thursday morning at the Blackburn Vernal Mortuary from 10:00 – 10:45 prior to the Graveside service.