Stuart Raymond Olson

Stuart Raymond Olson, age 75, went to be with the Lord on January 5, 2026, in Norfolk, Virginia, with family members at his side. Family and friends are welcome to attend the visitation from 11:30am to 12pm on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Grace Community Church - Chesapeake. A funeral service celebrating Stuart's life will begin at 12pm at the church, and will be followed by a reception in their fellowship hall. The burial will be private.
Stu was born to Jerome and Barbara (Watson) Olson on a very cold January night in northern Minnesota. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, and an infant granddaughter. He is survived by his loving wife of more than 53 years, Bev; two wonderful daughters and sons-in-law, Sarah (Tarik) Gurel and Naomi (Keith) Benjamin; six fantastic grandchildren, Mahmut Gurel, Macide Gurel, Meryem Gurel, Murat Gurel, Anna Benjamin, and Leah Benjamin; and two siblings, Carl (Rita) Olson and Clare (Bob) Carpenter. He is also survived by countless other extended family, friends, students, and colleagues who made his life richer by their influence.
Stu's post-secondary education plans were interrupted by the Vietnam War, where he served in the U.S. Army, 1st Cav Air Mobile, 2nd/8th LRRP. On February 7, 1971, his platoon was pinned down in a firefight, and many soldiers died and were injured that day. Stu was seriously wounded when a white phosphorous grenade landed on their line. After recovery in burn units on the field and in Japan and the US, he was honorably discharged at the conclusion of his additional military obligation in the US and Germany. Among other awards, Stu received the Purple Heart and the Army Commendation Medal with "V" Device.
Stu changed education fields; and upon completion of training in refrigeration and major appliance repair, he owned a business in northern Minnesota using those skills for ten years. With his desire to further serve God and others, he made several short-term mission trips overseas, loving the adventure and lasting purpose of sharing the Gospel message through word and deed. Stu eventually moved his family to Belgium, where he led work teams and local crews to modify church, parsonage, and Bible college buildings to better meet the needs of outreach. Then they were off to South America, where he led more work teams in the beginning phase of constructing a large church and childcare facility in Venezuela. When that construction was temporarily halted, he worked on a similar church project in southern Ecuador. His daughters were attending secondary school in the capitol city and staying in a dormitory for missionary children. Stu and Bev became interim dorm parents, where Stu developed a reputation for tutoring children in math. He began substituting at the international Christian school, taught a woodworking course, and served as the mission's field business manager. For twenty years, Stu's favorite ministry in Ecuador was sponsoring volunteer students in Christian Service Outreach, developing leadership and evangelism skills to use in biweekly visits to orphanages and a large children's hospital, as well as yearly VBS-type trips to the eastern jungle.
In 1999, Stu returned to the US to complete his teaching degree. Back in Ecuador, he taught secondary math and moved on to become the school's registrar and college advisor, while completing his master and doctorate level degrees through satellite and internet courses. Eventually the effect of his Vietnam injuries caught up to him, causing pulmonary fibrosis that led to total disability. Upon retirement and return to the US, he continued to tutor math students and picked up his carpentry tools once again to do handyman work for others.
One of Stu's most fortuitous moments was finding old comrades from his platoon. He attended Vietnam reunions many times and learned the true and complete stories of what happened those many years ago. They shared tears and laughter in a cathartic way, brothers whose bonds could not be separated by time or distance.
Forced sedentary life in recent years gave him countless hours to write his life story for the grandchildren. No doubt it will include tales of hunting and fishing, adventures in mountains and fields, instructions on how to run and how to fix things, historical accounts of family and friends. We look forward to cherishing his written memories. We could not have asked for a better husband, father, and grandfather. Stu exemplified servanthood, valor, patriotism, tenacity, curiosity, and a love of learning. His spiritual leadership, wisdom, integrity, protection, humor, patience, and kindness are treasured character traits. We celebrate a life well lived in glory to God.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Community Church in Chesapeake, for a special project. Those wishing to watch the livesteam of the services please visit www.facebook.com/share/1DExeNmZ87/?mibextid=wwXIfr