Genevieve "Jenny" Josephine Olson

Jenny Olson of Pine City passed away Thursday, April 16, 2020 at Welia Health in Mora at the age of 96.

Genevieve Josephine Pangerl was born July 9, 1923 to Joseph and Emma (Youngbauer) Pangerl in rural Pine City, Minnesota.

Jenny grew up with her sister and two brothers attending the one room school house through the 8th grade when she left school to work on the family farm. In 1945, she met her future husband Robert Melford Olson. On August 27, 1946 they were united in marriage at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City where she was a lifelong member. To this union, 7 children were born. Jenny was a homemaker until 1964 when she and Bobby purchased the Pine City Standard and renamed it "Bob's Standard".  Jenny assumed the bookkeeping duties. After Robert's death in 1981, she continued to own and operate the station, retiring in 1997 when she sold the station to her daughter and son-in-law, Janet and John Schumacher.

Jenny was an avid gardener, winning multiple ribbons at the Pine County Fair for her vegetables and flowers. She enjoyed playing cards with longtime friends, bingo, and attending her children's and grandchildren's sporting and school events. Jenny was a great cook and enjoyed treating family and friends to her potato dumplings, potato salad and applesauce cake; to name a few.  For many years she volunteered her time at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church serving as the funeral luncheon coordinator.  She was known for providing delicious lunches and for her meticulous note keeping. She enjoyed selling numerous raffle tickets for festivals, etc.  Jenny loved family gatherings and always looked forward to Labor Day when she was involved in the sausage making get-together and German dinner that followed.  In 2019, this event celebrated its 43rd consecutive year.

In the early 1940's, Jenny played in a women's softball league and proudly shared that her team traveled to the Minneapolis Aquatennial. She was physically active and a very hard worker her entire life until her health began to decline in 2016. Jenny relocated from her longtime home in 2017 to Northern Pines Assisted Living.

Jenny is survived by her children: Dennis (Gayla) Olson of Mora, JoAnn Olson of Minneapolis, Janet (John) Schumacher of Pine City, Douglas Olson of Snowmass, Colorado, Daryl Olson of Brook Park, Dale (Kathryn) Olson of Pine City, David Olson (Steven Johnson) of St. Paul; 8 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; sister Frances Nordeen of Cambridge; brother Art Pangerl of Pine City; many special nieces and nephews, extended family and a host of friends from her community and church.

Jenny is preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Emma Pangerl; husband Robert Olson; brother Bernard (LaDez) Pangerl; parents-in-law Oscar and Myrtle Struxness; brother-in-law Merle Nordeen; sister-in-law Betty (Don) Purdy; Doris Mohr; nephews Mark Nordeen and Mark Purdy.

Memorials in Jenny's memory may be designated to: Immaculate Conception CCW-Funeral Fund.

Monsignor Alexsander Suchan will celebrate a private family Mass of Christian Burial for Jenny; 10:30 AM Wednesday (5/6/20) at Immaculate Conception Church in Pine City with a private visitation and reviewal prior to the Mass.  The interment will be in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery of Pine City. 

Jenny's family wants everyone to know that a public fellowship lunch, to share memories of Jenny, will occur when we can once again congregate.    

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City ~ Swanson Chapel. www.FuneralAndCremationService.com