Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
BORN
1929
DIED
2025
Olaf Verlo Obituary
Olaf Verlo
March 25, 1929
June 15, 2025
With great sadness we announce the death of Olaf Christian Verlo, engineer, age 96. Chris had an automotive career in Flint, France, Venezuela, and the Philippines. After retiring, he volunteered as a consultant in India, Egypt, and Ghana, and refused to go downhill except as a guide for Ski For Light.
Born in Ringerike, Norway in 1929, Chris endured the German occupation and served in postwar Europe. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1953 to study at General Motors Institute. He met his wife Kathy in South Dakota, and the two retired to Manitou where he supported her interests as city councilwoman until her death in 2008.
Chris loved dancing, painting, rafting, waterskiing and, scuba-diving. He loved the sea and skippered with equal parts authority and recklessness. He collected ancient mementos and he greatly admired art.
He is survived by his children Eric, Lisa, and Karin, grandchildren Bryn, Graham, and Turner, and great-grandchildren Ripley and Wren—who inherit his curiosity and mildly concerning refusal to read warning signs.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Olaf Verlo
Make a Donation
in Olaf Verlo's name
Memorial Events
for Olaf Verlo
How to support Olaf's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Olaf Verlo's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
