In class, in fighting illness, Olsen inspired

George Olsen was an inspiring teacher whose enthusiasm and generous nature touched students, church friends and the needy. Even as the former high school educator lay dying in his Richfield home, he was teaching.

He told friends and family how much they meant to him during his last days before succumbing to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative muscular disease, said his daughter, Cassandra Williams.

"He talked about spirituality and dying. He didn't skirt around the issue. He took it head on," Williams said.

Olsen died June 27 at age 87.

Born in Montana, Olsen served in the Army in World War II before earning two degrees from the University of Minnesota. He taught 33 years at St. Louis Park High School, the last 12 in history and English for at-risk students. He also led adult education classes, baked caramel rolls for fundraisers and organized paint-a-thons for poor homeowners during 33 years at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Richfield.

Virginia Olsen, his wife of 54 years, said her husband stood up in church last fall and said, "I have ALS. I know people here would do anything they could for me if I ask them. But I'm not going to ask because I am independent and we don't do that sort of thing. But my lawn needs raking and I hope you'll come over next Saturday and help with that."

St. Nicholas' priest, the Rev. Tom Eklo, recalled that Sunday service.

About half the congregation, 50 members, came over to rake. "It was done in an hour," Virginia Olsen said.

"He used his illness to encourage people to reach out. He taught us how to ask for help," said church member Sharon Mills. She said the members set up a schedule to bring meals over and help Olsen's wife and two grown children care for him as his condition worsened.

Mills, who once taught vacation Bible school with Olsen, described him as "a Pied Piper -- children loved him. He was always on their level."

Over the years, Olsen waxed church floors, organized church trips to Twin Cities homeless shelters and helped build an orphanage school and hospital in Haiti, Mills said.

Olsen was an involved father who loved playing cards, badminton or croquet with his two children and watching their sports events, said Williams and her brother, Ted Olsen.

In addition to his wife, son and daughter, he is survived by six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services have been held.