William C. Olsen, 96, of Jefferson, the son of Olaf and Anna Anderson Olsen, passed away peacefully Nov. 16 at his long-time home, with his family by his side. A resident of Jefferson since his retirement from the U.S. Navy in 1949, Bill was a former fire chief of the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department, a manager of the Waldoboro Little League, a school bus driver, and beloved husband and father.
Born in Somerville, Mass., Dec. 5, 1911, the youngest child of a Norwegian immigrant, Bill lost his father at age eight to tuberculosis and mother at age 16 to a brain aneurysm. In 1929, just before the stock market crash, he enlisted in the Navy and began a 20-year career as a stoker in a coal-fueled naval ship. He went on to become an engineer and served as a chief petty officer in the 1930s and throughout WWII.
A young fan when Babe Ruth pitched the Red Sox to a 1918 World Series title, Bill endured the long years of “The Curse” until the Sox staged their improbable 2004 title comeback.
More than a fan, Bill was a dominant left-handed pitcher during his Navy years and competed against teams in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Central America, and the Philippines. He brought his love for the sport to Jefferson and passed it on to his four sons, who all played competitively.
Bill used his practical experience and know-how to build a thriving farm after his Navy retirement. Initially raising milk cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, kittens, and boys, he spent most of the next 20 years primarily in chicken farming.
He is predeceased by his beloved wife and mother of his sons, Alice; second wife, Gertrude Gamage Hansen Olsen; brothers, Arthur and Eliot; sister, Elaine; nephews, Dexter Olsen, and Tyler Olsen; and niece, Elaine Emery.
He is survived by his sons, Jon of Jefferson, Gary and wife Mary of Jefferson, Jeff and wife LeeAnn of Germantown, N.Y, and Rick and wife Ludwina of Edgewater, Md.; step-children, Phillip, Judith, and Mark Hansen; grandchildren, Yolanda Olsen, Karl Olsen, Tyler Olsen, Britta Olsen, Chris Olsen, Lincoln Olsen, Grant Olsen, Cyrus Olsen, Ben Olsen, Justin King, Noah Hansen, and Jeremy Hansen; great-grandchild, Paz Watson; nephews, Clark Olsen and wife Anna, and Lee Olsen and wife Mary; and niece, Jane Blackstone.
At Bill’s request there is no funeral service; a celebration of his life will be scheduled for the summer.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends to make a donation to Hospice of Maine or perform an act of kindness for someone in need.
