Gwendolyn Nancy Olsen Isaacson

Gwendolyn Nancy Olsen Isaacson (“Sis”), passed away April 27, 2021, at the age of 86 from cancer. Gwen was born on July 14, 1934 to Ludvig Andeas and Nancy Dipo Olsen in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Known to all as “Sis”, she loved growing up on Sunset Avenue in South Salt Lake. A member of the Central Park Ward, her world revolved around her church and neighborhood friends. A tomboy from an early age, Gwen made model airplanes, climbed trees and played cops and robbers by the hour. Her twin brother Glen was her favorite “partner in crime”. She enjoyed playing 1st base in softball and threw a mean fast ball as a pitcher.
Gwen graduated from Granite High School in 1952, where she was an officer of the Girl’s League. While in high school, she was chosen to serve as a delegate to Utah Girls State for her leadership, character, courage, honesty and scholarship. After graduation, Gwen went to work for Mountain Fuel Supply where she earned money for her LDS mission. At the age of 23, Gwen served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Hawaiian Islands. She served in the mission office and loved being a representative of the Lord.
After her mission, Gwen attended the University of Utah and received a Bachelor’s Degree in History. While there, she met and dated LaVar King Isaacson. They were married on September 14, 1961, in the Salt Lake Temple. King and Gwen were blessed with three children, Lynette, Nancy Ann, and Thomas Martin. After several years of staying home raising her family, Gwen went to work as a teacher’s aide at Clayton Junior High. To her credit, Nancy and Tom loved having their mom at school with them. Gwen enjoyed teaching so much that she went back to the University of Utah and received a second degree in Special Education. As a resource teacher at Glendale Junior High for 15 years, Gwen had a special talent for connecting with her students. After her retirement, she served as a mentor to new teachers.
Gwen was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a deep and abiding testimony of Jesus Christ and His gospel. She served in many callings with love, compassion and dedication. Her favorite calling was “Sister Friendly” in the Primary, where she would come once a month and teach lessons on how to be kind to each other.
Gwen loved everyone, especially her family. Her grandchildren said that she always gave the best foot rubs and hand tickles! Gwen spent many wonderful hours with her children and grandchildren and enjoyed supporting their many sporting and musical events. Gwen was very social and loved family dinners for any reason, especially Christmas Eve and birthdays. She enjoyed attending U of U basketball games, book club, plays at Pioneer Theater Company and “Isaacson drives”, particularly trips to Southern Utah.
It is hard to put into words the amount of laughter, fun, service and unconditional love she showed and received from so many people.
Gwen is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, King; her children, Lynette (Tod) Berg, Nancy Ann (Keith) Warr, Thomas Martin (Virginia) Isaacson, 12 grandchildren and one soon-to-be born great-grandchild; and her twin brother, Glen (Loretta) Olsen. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Ludean, brother Ludvig and sister-in-law Jackie.
Funeral services will take place on Saturday, May 1st at 11:30 am in the Foothill 7th Ward Chapel, 2215 East Roosevelt Ave, Salt Lake City, Utah 84108. There will be a viewing for family 10:30 am – 11:00 am, prior to services in the chapel. The funeral will also be broadcast via Zoom, Meeting ID: 781 3896 9783, Passcode: 934932. Interment will be at Larkin Cemetery, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah. The family is deeply grateful for the love and kindness shown to Gwen by the Foothill 7th ward, close friends and neighbors. We appreciate the services provided by the wonderful people at Canyon Hospice, Beehive Senior Care and especially the tender care provided by caregivers Jenn and Verona.