Obituary of Elver Olsen
The family of Elver Olsen beloved husband of Grethe Olsen of Calgary, Alberta is deeply saddened to announce his passing on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at the age of 87 years.
Elver is being remembered by everyone as a kind and caring man who was devoted to his family, his business ventures and to his volunteer work in building a great community in the place he called home since 1957.
Elver and Grethe met at a dance in Denmark in 1951 where Elver was the singer in the band. They started a beautiful friendship, fell in love and married in 1955.
They immigrated to Calgary in 1957 where they both worked at the Calgary General Hospital. Elver took a job as an electrician and Grethe worked as a nurse.
Elver started Scandia Electric in 1961, which he owned and operated, along with his son Jan, until 1998. He served terms as President of the Electrical Contractors Association of Alberta, President of the Danish Businessmen’s Association, and President of the Danish Canadian Club. For 49 years, he was a Trustee for the Electrical Contractors Pension Fund, as well as the Health and Welfare Fund.
Elver also volunteered with the Lions Club for over 45 years, sitting as President and was very proud of being awarded Lifetime Membership. He also stood as the Chef de Mission for Denmark, during the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
Elver was one of the founders and operators of the Lions Festival of Lights in Confederation Park. While the electrical work on the job became more challenging as he grew older, it was truly a labour of love and he so appreciated being able to gift the citizens of Calgary, and visitors, with that beautiful holiday display every year.
Elver had a beautiful singing voice and would often share it through many choirs and recordings of him singing. We all looked forward to his traditional calls on our birthdays when he would sing Happy Birthday to you!
He taught us all many life lessons through his wisdom and caring and compassionate nature. Some of his sayings that will stay with us always, “the vacation starts as soon as we pull out of the driveway” and “just be good to each other every day.” We will do that dad, and always make you proud.
Elver is survived by his loving wife, Grethe. They just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on July 30th, surrounded by family and many friends.
Elver is also survived by, and will be missed greatly by, his children, Jan Elver Olsen (Tracy), Michael Paul Olsen (Laureen), Tony Brian Olsen (Jayne) and Linda Chris Olsen (Mike Siroishka); his eleven grandchildren will also miss him deeply, Courtney (William Calton), Eric, Melissa, Riley (Madison Fulton), Kristina, Parker, Sydney, Georgia, Spencer, Chas and Shallon he will also be missed by an extended family in Denmark.
Elver was predeceased by his father Gunner, mother Ingeborg, brothers Leif and Kurt, sister Inge as well as an infant grandson Connor.
Elver did not wish to have a formal service but would be happy to know people had made donations to the Canadian Diabetes Association , if friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Diabetes Canada, 220, 6223 – 2nd Street S.E., Calgary, AB T2H 1J5 Telephone: (403) 266-0620, ext. 1112, www.diabetes.ca.