Olaf E. A. Andersen, 88, Wisconsin Rapids, passed away on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at Cranberry Court in Wisconsin Rapids.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at Wisconsin Rapids Moravian Church with visitation from 9:00 am until the time of service. Rt. Rev. Paul Graf will officiate. The service will be streamed online and can be accessed on Olaf’s obituary page at www.rembsfh.com. Burial will follow at Mound Cemetery, Pittsville. Buchanan/Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Olaf was born on February 26, 1936 in Makkovik Labrador, Canada to Torsten and Alice (Voisey) Andersen.
He was united in marriage to Rita Hancock on July 3, 1965 in Makkovik Labrador, Canada. He graduated from Moravian Seminary in May 1967. He and Rita served Moravian congregations in London England, Hopedale Labrador, Longwood Florida, Veedum Wisconsin, Unionville Michigan, Green Bay Wisconsin, Rudolph Wisconsin, and Saratoga Wisconsin, and the UCC congregation in Pittsville Wisconsin.
Throughout his life, he was a fierce card and board game player, played hockey in his youth, enjoyed golf, and wrote poetry. He also loved to watch sports (he loved the Dodgers, Packers, and Maple Leafs) and enjoyed going to watch his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids at their school games, concerts, and performances. He loved going out to eat and would always take delight in talking to the wait staff and giving them a hard time.
He had a passion for loving people throughout his life and ministry. This was shown evident in his preaching, his visiting, his pastoral care, and the time he took to listen to and care for each individual. He loved going to church camps, participating in campfire skits and sharing the love of God through his Vespers stories. In keeping with his passion for sending kids to church camp, Olie had requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Western District Camping Ministries Committee and mailed to the Moravian Church, 700 N. Mayflower Drive, Appleton, Wisconsin 54913.
He is survived by his wife, Rita, children, Elaine (Virgil) Voight of Pittsville, Kathryn (Jerry) Bignall of Pittsville, Jonathan (Jennifer) Andersen of Bear Creek, and Jason (Amy) Andersen of Windsor, grandchildren, Eric (Elsa) Voight, Heather (William) Wellach, Susan (Paden) Thombley, Olaf (Hannah) Voight, Morgan Bignall (Ben), Luke Bignall (Lauren), Matthew (Rosiland) Andersen, Rebecca Andersen, Sol Andersen, and Seth Andersen, and 18 great grandchildren.
He is further survived by Anna Jaque of Makkovik Labrador, Canada, Eugene (Penny) Andersen of North Bay Ontario, Canada, and Merv (Celeste) Andersen of Goosebay Labrador, Canada.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Torsten and Alice, brothers, Ted, Billy, Abe, Hayward, sisters, Emma and Joy, and great grandchildren, Valerie and Atticus.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Compassus Hospice.
Condolences may be sent online at www.rembsfh.com
Well done good and faithful servant.
Author: News Desk
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