Joel Olsen

With heavy hearts we want to share that Joel Andrew Olsen, 48, of Wapato has passed away at home peacefully after a long battle with COPD. Joel the son of Dale (deceased) and Kay (Mrachek) Olsen attended Wapato Schools and graduated from Zillah High School in 1989. A young man of sharp wit and a preference for having fun; Joel loved the sense of home he felt living in the valley and working on the family farm. His youth was filled with riding motor bikes with his siblings and cousins. This love of driving was realized his passion for racing cars, riding snowmobile and driving his boat; Joel loved to go fast. Joel also loved to socialize. Especially swimming and attending swimming meets as a Wapato Whale. He was immensely proud of his trucking company; however, Joel’s greatest joy was his family and his devotion to dogs. Joel is survived by his mother Kay (Mrachek) Olsen of Wapato; his sister Jean (Olsen) Klekotka of Seattle, his brother Mark Olsen of NYC and his brother John Olsen of Wapato. He is also survived by A.J. Smith his step-son, His Aunt Valerie Olsen of Sumas cousins Peter Olsen, Ian Olsen and Linda Olsen and His Aunt Jane (Olsen) Davis and Gary Davis of Walla Walla. Joel enjoyed and was thankful for his many friends. Services will be held at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Wapato, (formerly Merritt Funeral Home) at 2:00 pm on Saturday, April 13, 2019. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider donations to St Jude Hospital. St Jude held a special place is Joel’s heart; please continue Joel’s tradition of giving to this worthy cause via The Joel A. Olsen Memorial Fund at St Jude’s (available online). To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joel Olsen, please visit our flower store.