Richard A. Olsen, 84, of the Avenel section of Woodbridge Township passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on January 15, 2024. Raised in Carteret by the late Sofie and Olav Olsen, Richard resided in Avenel since 1956. He was a graduate of Carteret High School and served in the National Guard for six years. He was also a long-time member of the Deutscher Club of Clark with his wife Gisela.

Since his father's retirement in 1976, Richard continued to operate the family business, Olsen's Brake Service (est. 1938 in Carteret and moved to Avenel in 1947). A great mechanic, Richard was known for his honesty and generosity. He was in the shop seven days a week but home for dinner every night.

When he wasn't in the shop, Richie enjoyed camping up and down the east coast with the "gang", visiting family in other countries, and traveling to new places with Gisela. He loved watching his girls ice skate, being in his son's company, and spending time on the water fishing, but more often napping on the boat. He enjoyed live music and dancing the polka with Gisela, his daughters, granddaughters, and nieces. What brought him the most joy, though, was visiting with family and friends, listening to their stories and telling his own.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Olsen was predeceased by his brother, O. Leonard Olsen, in 2016.

Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Gisela Olsen; children, Karin Hallenbeck and her husband, Gene, of Middletown NJ, Heide DePalma and her husband, Nick, of Avenel, Olav Olsen and his wife, Kim, of New York, NY and Amy Griffith and her husband, Lee, of Haddon Heights NJ; grandchildren, Krista, Erika, Anna Sophia, Olav, Tyler, Kaia, Bryn, and Kierstyn; his Tante Lillian, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and life-long friends.

A prayer service will take place on Saturday January 20, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. at Costello-Greiner Funeral Home, 44 Green Street Woodbridge, NJ 07095. Visitation for family and friends will be on Saturday beginning at 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Mulitple Myeloma Research Foundation https://themmrf.org.

Richard's family is also in the process of setting up a memorial fund for a scholarship in his name to benefit a student pursuing a career in the automotive trade.