Kari Kay Mills Olsen

Kari Kay Mills Olsen, age 48, of Gladstone, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, August 4, 2018. She was born on December 8, 1969 in Escanaba, the daughter of Jerald “Jerry” and Elaine (Johnson) Mills. Kari grew up in Gladstone and was a 1988 graduate of Gladstone High School. She attended Bay College for 2 years where she received her Associate’s Degree. Kari then transferred and furthered her education at Michigan Technological University in Houghton and graduated with a Scientific and Technology Writing Degree in 1992. She came back to Escanaba and worked at Child & Family Services until she and her fiancé, Mike Olsen, moved to Breckenridge, CO and opened Cousin Jack’s Pasty Shop. The couple owned and operated the business for a few years until she became a supervisor at First Bank in Silverthorne, CO. In September of 1998, the former Kari Mills married Mike Olsen at the House of Ludington in Escanaba. Together, the couple shared nearly 20 years of marriage. In 2006, they moved back to Gladstone to be closer to family and friends. Kari was employed at OSF St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba where she worked in the lab for the past 12 years. She attended Calvary Baptist Church in Escanaba and also Grace Church in Gladstone. Kari took pride in being a very organized individual and carried out the many daily household needs. She had a passion for writing and loved anything to do with the outdoors, especially skiing, hiking, and biking. Kari loved her family and will be deeply missed.

Kari is survived by husband, Mike Olsen of Gladstone; son, Parker Olsen of Gladstone; mother, Elaine Mills of Gladstone; sister, Becke (Jason) LaMarche of Gladstone; brothers, Mark (Leah) Mills of Appleton, WI, and David Mills of Gladstone; nieces and nephews, Bryce LaMarche, Owen LaMarche, Mason LaMarche, Avery LaMarche, and Cash Wolverton.

Kari was preceded in death by her father, Jerald Mills; and her brother, Steven Mills.

Visitation will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, August 9, 2018 at the Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba. Funeral services celebrating the life of Kari will follow at 5:00 p.m., Thursday, in the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Ron Bergman and Pastor Brian Swillum officiating. A luncheon will be served afterward in the Calvary Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. Burial will take place in Lakeview Cemetery. 

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