The Olsen family grew up loving ranch life. But they also knew life on the JCJ Ranch in Big Chino, north of Paulden, had its hazards.
Dan Olsen – one of John and Ann Olsen’s two sons – recalls a day on the ranch that began with two local kids on a go-cart ending up under the wheels of a tractor.
“So they were hauled into YRMC (then Yavapai Community Hospital),” he said.
Hours later that day, Dan crashed the same tractor into an irrigation ditch and broke his arm.
“And now I’m going to YRMC,” he said. “YRMC was pretty important back when we were kids.”
John Olsen: A Man of the Earth
The Olsen siblings – three of whom with their spouses own Olsen’s for Healthy Animals – credit their father and mother for instilling in them respect for the land, hard work and commitment to community.
“My father was a man of his word,” said Kathy Sischka, one of two Olsen daughters. “He was honest and people respected that about him. He was a man of the earth and he loved every bit of this county.”
Click here to watch Our Memories of YRMC: The Olsen and Sischka Families, Part 2 on YouTube.
Supporting Community-Based Healthcare
John’s devotion to Yavapai County inspired him to get involved in community-based healthcare, county government, education, water conservation and more.
In the 1960s, he was instrumental in bringing together leaders from the County Hospital and Yavapai Community Hospital for delicate discussions about joining forces to have one hospital that would serve the community. His efforts led to the formation of the Central Yavapai Hospital District in 1960 and the opening of YRMC at its current location in 1964.
“Whenever John was involved in something, I always knew it was going to turn out right,” said son-in-law Steve Sischka, who serves on YRMC’s Board of Trustees.
YRMC also cared for John, as son Mike remembered.
“The only reason my Dad was able to come back home at the end of his life was because of YRMC’s Infusion Center,” he said.
YRMC Provides Advanced Specialties
The Olsen family agrees that their father was impressed by YRMC’s expansion and the addition of important advanced specialties to serve the community.
Dan describes how his father enjoyed sharing the story of his involvement in YRMC with the providers who cared for him at YRMC.
“He was proud,” said Dan, “but it was a humble proud.”
Just as you would expect from a man of the earth.