Born in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania in December of 1959 and raised in the small town of Houtzdale by his parents, a coal miner father and stay at home mom, Pastor Jaime's gift of a strong voice became an important part of his life in the church and beyond.
In 1976, he met Karen Willey in classes at the Moshannon Valley Jr. & Sr. High School who in December of 1980 would become his spouse.
Working for 18 years at the Clearfield Hospital in various office and other positions and from 1985 to 2001 along with Karen owned and operated Olson Cake Decorating and Floral Design.
Throughout their years together, Karen and Jaime were actively involved in the church, and Karen says she knew from the time she was a young child that someday she would be married to a pastor. After the third time of hearing a strong calling to serve as pastor, plans began to me made for the business to be sold with college and seminary to follow.
After 12 years of marriage and no sign of a child, the business was sold and our daughter Rebecca was born the week before Jaime started college, January 1992. Jaime continued to work at the Clearfield Hospital in the evenings and part-time at Clearfield Florist, while attending and then graduating from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies, January 1996.
In the fall of 1996, Jaime resigned his position at the Clearfield Hospital and the Olson family moved to Gettysburg Seminary to pursue the four year Master of Divinity degree leading to ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
While at seminary, Jaime became actively involved as a student at First Lutheran Church, Altoona, and remained throughout a major rebuild following a devastating fire, and after a year’s internship away, was called to a three year term call as associate pastor.
After the three years came to a close, Jaime was called to Evangelical Lutheran Church in Duncansville, PA as interim pastor and after one year was called as the ordained pastor where ministry continues to thrive and grow as we continue to develop the property and ministry in such a way as to create welcome and hospitality as the greatest expression of the Good News of Jesus’ love for all who enter.
Since ordination, Pr. Jaime has remained faithful to the study of traumatic stressor events and holds a board certification as an expert in traumatic stress. This study has afforded the opportunity for Pr. Jaime to reach out during times of crisis to help many struggling due to traumatic loss.
If you would like to meet Pr. Jaime, please join us at Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1200 4th Avenue, Duncansville, Pennsylvania.
