Margaret Louise Olsen

Margaret Louise (Wallace) Olsen passed away peacefully at the age of 91, on January 26th with her family by her side. She was born on October 1, 1919 in Johnson City, New York. Her family moved to California when she was 3 years old; a trip that took 30 days by car. She grew up in Merced and graduated from Merced High in 1938. She met her husband, Ken when she was 17 years old. They were happily married for 50 years. They lived in Atwater for 39 years in the house that they built themselves before they moved back to Merced in 1979.

Her first job was at Montgomery Wards when she was a senior in high school and then at the post office as a clerk for over 20 years. While her husband was away serving in the Army during World War II, she ran his mail route. She was also a teller at Bank of America and worked at H & R Block for 10 years. She was a dedicated volunteer at Hinds Hospice of Merced, which she thoroughly enjoyed.

She was a master seamstress and could make anything without a pattern. She was a great baker and loved making cookies, pies, and her famous cobblers; Christmas won’t be the same without her overseeing the “cookie operation.” Shopping was one of her favorite pastimes… she loved to shop until the car was full. She was also a devoted Republican and stayed up to date on her politics until her last day.

The joy of her life was being a mother, grandma, great-grandma “GiGi”, great-great grandma and an auntie to all of her many treasured nieces and nephews. She was not just a grandma to her family, she was known as grandma to everyone who knew her. She really loved all of her “kiddos.”

Louise was preceded in death by her parents Curt and Margaret Wallace, her brothers Curtis, Marvin, Earle, James (Jimmy), and her husband, Ken who passed away in 1990.

She is survived by her son Ken and wife Linda, granddaughters Barbie Hanneman and husband Ian, Tina Winek and husband Aaron, great-grandchildren Nick-23, Noelle-22, Evan-13, Jaden-6, Ezra-2, great-great grandson Aiden-2, sister –in-laws Angie, Marilyn, Grace, Alyce, Terri and her many beloved nieces and nephews.

We would like to thank all of the nurses and staff at Mercy Hospital that assisted with her care. The family would like to give a special thank you to Lora, her nurse in the ER for going above and beyond her regular nursing duties. We also wish to convey a special thank you to Dr. Jared Paskin for all his personal care and compassion.

A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at Stratford Evans Funeral Home in Merced on Tuesday, February 1st at 11:00 am. We look forward to having everyone share their personal stories and memories with us. Please join the family for a reception following the service. The family will be having a private burial.

In lieu of flowers, Louise would love for donations to be made in her honor to Hinds Hospice of Merced. 410 W Main St # A

Merced, CA 95340-4829