Obituaries

James Olsen

James E. Olsen of Laurel died April 28 at Mather T. Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson. He was 69. 

He was born Feb. 18, 1945, in Kew Gardens, N.Y. to James and Evelyn Olsen. Mr. Olsen received Bachelor of Arts and master’s degrees at C.W. Post and graduated from Suffolk County Community College with a degree in nursing. He was employed by Suffolk County Correctional Facility as a registered nurse.

Mr. Olsen served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 to 1970 and in the Navy Reserves from 1970 to 1993. During his military service, he received many awards, including a Combat Action Ribbon, a Presidential Unit Citation/Ribbon, a Vietnam Service Medal (two bronze stars.), a Bronze Star Medal with combat “V”, a National Defense Service Medal, a Vietnam Campaign Medal, a Good Conduct Award and a Purple Heart (two gold stars). He was a member of the Mattituck American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Olsen also volunteered with Suffolk County Boy Scouts, assisting with Mattituck-Cutchogue Cub Scout Pack 39 and Boy Scout Troop 39. He was also a former school board member in the Laurel school district and a coach with North Fork Soccer League.

He was predeceased by his  brothers, Richard and Arthur and is survived by his wife, Lynn (née Clement) of Laurel; his sons, James R., also of Laurel and Erik of Oregon; and his brother, Kenneth of Missouri.

The family will receive visitors Friday, May 2, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, with visiting hours continuing Saturday, May 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. A funeral service will take place Saturday, May 3 at 4 p.m. the funeral home. Interment with military honors will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warriors Project or Suffolk County Boy Scout Council.