Retired Covenant pastor Wesley Olson passed away on December 31, 2023, in Turlock, California. He was 94.
Wesley “Wes” Roger Olson was born on a farm on the border of Minnesota and Canada
on July 8, 1929, at the beginning of the Great Depression. As a young man Wes attended Prairie Bible Institute, graduating in 1951. He attended North Park College, where he was in the college choir, gospel team, sang in a traveling quartet, and served as sophomore class president. He graduated in 1954, then later attended the University of Minnesota and Western Michigan University, graduating the latter in 1966. He returned to Chicago to attend North Park Theological Seminary, graduating in 1969. Wesley was ordained into ministry by the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1971.
While he was at North Park, Wes met Joyce Parker, who was a nursing student at Swedish Covenant Hospital. During the early years of their marriage, Wes was an announcer at a number of radio stations in Minnesota and Michigan. Their children, Judy, Greg, and Brett, grew up in the various parsonages of churches that Wes and Judy served together, including Richland Covenant Church in Richland, Michigan; First Covenant Church in Chicago; Chain O’ Lakes Covenant Church in McHenry, Illinois; and Pilgrim Covenant Church in South Plainfield, New Jersey. Wes and Joyce eventually parted ways.
While working as executive director of the Contact-We-Care crisis hotline, Wes met Mercedes Rossol. They married, and remained life partners for 36 years, including 20 years at Covenant Living in Turlock, California. Together they served churches in Santa Rosa, California; Iron Mountain, Michigan; and Paradise, California.
Wes was known for his kindness, patience, and loving nature. He was down-to-earth, not “preachy,” and the driving force of his life was to discover the nature of God. In addition to being a pastor, Wes was a lifelong learner and a bit of a rebel, working also as a writer and a truck driver. He had a beautiful voice and enjoyed singing, riding his motorcycle, making things with his hands, and he could fix pretty much anything.
Wes is survived by his wife, Merce; children Judy Curtis (Samson), Greg (Cori), Brett (Heather), and Eric Rossol (Jean); and six grandchildren.
A memorial service was held on January 28, 2024, at Covenant Living in Turlock. In lieu of sending flowers, donations may be made to the Covenant Living of Turlock Benevolent Fund.
Peace to his memory.
