Janet Karen (Olsen) Pulsipher
March 18, 1936 - October 21, 2024
Janet Karen (Olsen) Pulsipher, 88, passed away peacefully in her home in Washoe Valley. Janet was born in Reno, NV to Anna (Jensen) Olsen and Harold Olsen. She graduated from Sparks High School in 1954 and the University of Nevada Reno in 1958 with a degree in education. Janet lived her entire life in Nevada residing in Sparks, Genoa, and Washoe Valley, NV.
Janet was preceded in death by her mother Anna (Jensen) Olsen, Father Harold Olsen, brothers Harold Peter Olsen (Ruth) and John Olsen (Peggy), two brothers who died as infants, and her nieces Linda Olsen and Joyce Olsen.
Janet is survived by her loving husband of 64 years Cleo Pulsipher, her son Gary Pulsipher (Marybeth), her granddaughter Cheyenne Pulsipher, and grandson Clay Pulsipher. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members. Janet had a deep love for her family and one of her great joys was the time she got to spend with them. She was especially proud of her family’s Danish heritage and loved being a lifelong member of the Danish Lodge and St. Luke’s Lutheran church where she was able to share her heritage and faith with her family and friends.
Janet’s first love was horses and rodeos. She grew up on a dairy in Sparks, NV, and fondly remembered the first horse that was her own, which was given to her by a neighbor. From that point on she was a “horse person”. She particularly loved barrel racing and competed in barrel racing most of her life, winning numerous awards. Throughout her life, she has been a member of the Nevada Cowboy’s Association, the Nevada Barrel Racing Association, and the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association. Janet began a3 0-plus year teaching career in 1959. She spent most of her career teaching kindergarten and first grade at Fritsch and Gleason elementary schools in Carson City. Janet loved her students and often talked about how much she missed the children after she retired. After retiring she remained active in the Carson City School District working as a substitute for many years and becoming a member of the Retired School Employees Association of Carson City.
After she retired, she and her husband could often be found traveling to Senior Pro Rodeos or spending the winter in Arizona where they could ride all winter long. Her lifetime with horses brought her many friends who shared her interests. She cherished these friendships deeply.
A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Reno, NV on November 16, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. A celebration of the life of Janet Pulsipher will be held in the Fellowship Hall at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church following the ceremony. The family asks that in lieu of flowers St. Luke’s Lutheran Church be\ remembered.