Barbara Jean Spiegel Olsen returned to her heavenly home on Saturday, November 11, 2017 after her long courageous battle with cancer. She was born November 30, 1942 in Boynton Beach, Fla. to parents Herbert and Veda Louise Spiegel.
She graduated from Seacrest High school in Delray Beach, Fla. in 1960. She attended the St. Louis Institute of Music in Missouri where she played the piano on the local radio station. Barbara married her high school sweetheart Michael F. Olsen on January 6, 1961 in Delray Beach, Florida.
Barbara was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served diligently in many callings in the church. Some of them were Young Women’s President, Primary President and more than 12 years teaching youth in the seminary program. She had a great love for the youth of the church and a love of the scriptures. She was a temple ordinance worker in the Atlanta temple for two years. She also was involved in directing the choir for the first Atlanta Temple dedication. She had a passion and a gift for music and her “soul delighted in the song of the heart.” As a piano teacher, she shared her talent with others and taught piano lessons for more than three decades. Her love of music was a gift to all who knew her.
Her greatest loves were her faith and her family. She was an adored grandmother, mother and wife whose legacy of love, patience and endurance will live forever in the hearts of her loved ones and those privileged to call her friend. Her radiant smile warmed all those around her, and her positive, optimistic spirit was invincible. Each day of her life, she carried with her a spirit of abundant gratitude for all her blessings, and an unyielding love for our Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Michael F. Olsen, and her four children, Evelyn (Anthony) Martinez, of Layton, Utah, Jim (Audra) Olsen of Prosper, Texas, Kam (Jeff) Deck of Newnan, Ga. and Kelli (Tyler) Schenck of Syracuse, Utah. She is also survived by her sister Mary (Vern) Nielson of Ocoee, Fla. and 15 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her father Herbert Spiegel and her mother Veda Louise Spiegel and her granddaughter Kadisen Schenck.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) church building on 2021 Redwine Road, Fayetteville, Ga. 30215. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home at 200 Robinson Road, Peachtree City, Ga 30269.
