Resident of Albany

Karen died peacefully at the memory care unit of The Lodge at Glen Cove in Vallejo, CA, where she had been living for the past two months. She was 79.

Karen was born in Delta, CO, the daughter of Leslie and Evelyn Carlson. Her father was a fish hatchery superintendent with the Colorado Department of Fish and Game and they moved frequently when he was reassigned to new posts. Her childhood was spent in Eckert, Glenwood Springs, Cedaredge, and finally Wray, CO where she graduated from high school with the class of 1963. She attended Northern Colorado University for two years and then moved to Los Angeles where she graduated from Cal State Los Angeles in 1969 with aBAin Fine Arts.

In 1972, Karen moved to Oakland where she met Henry (Hank) Olson whom she joined in a six-month hitchhiking tour of Europe in 1974. Upon their return they moved to Monterey where they worked at the Monterey Peninsula Winery, Karen as office manager. They were married in 1977 and moved back to Oakland that summer.

In 1985 Karen was one of the first participants in the Alta Bates IVF program in Berkeley, resulting in the birth of their first son, Lawrence. A second son, Johnathan, was born in 1988. The family moved again in 1991 to their current residence in Albany.

During her sons’ school years in Albany, Karen was a very active volunteer in all aspects of school activities, including emergency preparedness, sports, music and various fund-raising programs. She served as president of the AHS PTA and on committees to get parcel tax initiatives on the ballot. She was an active volunteer with the League of Women Voters in getting students to register and vote and later worked as the office manager of the local LWV of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville office.

One of Karen’s great loves was travelling and she managed to visit over 25 countries and many states during her lifetime. Some of the most memorable experiences were visits to see relatives in Sweden, canal boat trips in England and France, touring Yugoslavia on her own, climbing the Great Wall in China, and camping trips to Yosemite, Her other great passion was gardening. She worked miracles with their small lot in Albany, transforming it from a barren dirt patch to an ever-blooming flower garden which she drew upon to provide bouquets to friends and family. Other hobbies included weaving, arts and crafts, cooking, and reading detective novels.

She is survived by her husband, Hank of Albany, sons Lawrence (and wife Andrea Duran) of Salem, OR, son John of Albany, sister Pat Moore of Delta, CO and nephews Jeff Rushall and David Rushall and nieces Lessie Martin and Judy Amoo. She will be fondly remembered by all who knew her for her wonderful sense of humor, infectious laugh, organizational skills, strong advocacy for women’s rights, her kind and generous spirit, and as aloving wife and mother.

In accordance with her wishes, no services are planned and her ashes will be scattered off Point Lobos south of Carmel, CA. A memorial gathering will be scheduled later this summer. Donations may be made to the Alameda County Food Bank, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, or the charity of your choice.