Obit: Osborne, Mary Catherine (1919 – 2009)
Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org PREVIOUS>

Surnames: Osborne, Kingery, Augustine, Klimek

---Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) February 18, 2009

---Osborne, Mary Catherine (19 October 1919 – 10 February 2009)

Mary Catherine Osborne, age 89, of Altoona, passed away Tuesday February 10, 2009 at Grace Edgewood in Altoona.

Mary was born on October 19, 1919, in Clinton, Indiana at her grandparents’ house with the help of a midwife. Her mother’s family emigrated from Austria when her mother was just nine years old. Her mother was a soft, mellow, and understanding person, and her father was a kind, humorous and generous man with his family and friends. These traits were an inherent part of Mary’s personality. Her early life was filled with wonderful aunts and uncles who encircled her with their love and acceptance.

She grew up during the Great Depression living in Hammond, Indiana, but also spent summers and one year living at her grandparents’ farm south of Thorp, Wisconsin. She often spoke of how she enjoyed walking the country roads three miles one-way to get to school. She spent her high school years in Hammond, Indiana. She was a hard-working woman who had a variety of jobs, even while she was raising her family. She helped build ships for the war effort and wasn’t able to go to college as there was barely enough money to pay the bills.

Mary was raised and baptized as a Catholic. Through seeing the faith of her parents and grandparents, she learned the importance of relying on God in everyday life and her faith helped her through difficult times.

When her best friend introduced her to Dan Osborne in April of 1942, she was instantly attracted to him and like everything about him. They were married in Georgia shortly before he was sent overseas to Europe during World War II. When Don came home from the service, they moved into their first home which was a rented 80-acre dairy farm south of Thorp. They rented the land and bought the livestock. Don’s parents lived in Colorado, and they spent many summer vacations there as their boys grew up. They would go to the County Fair and rodeo each year. They enjoyed spending time walking the prairie, hunting for arrowheads and artifacts and were always on the lookout for rattlesnakes. Her sons, Don Jr. and Gary were born in 1946 and 1948, respectively. Her happiest years, she claimed were taking care of her family and watching her sons grow up.

After living in Milwaukee for several years, they moved to Colorado in 1978. They spent four years there, but they missed their sons and respective families, including grandson, Matthew. When they retired, they decided to move back to Wisconsin. They called the Mondovi area and Altoona home ever since.

Mary was a kind and gentle spirit with a soft and welcoming smile. She love to read and take long walks outdoors well into her eighties. Nothing meant more to her than her faith and being with her family. Her presence was a charm and delight, and no doubt will be greatly missed.

As she would have wished, her family would like to extend a special “Thank you” to the caring and loving staff at Grace Edgewood Assisted Living and Community partnership who assisted her in so many ways during the last two years of her life.

Mary is survived by her sons: Donald Osborne, Jr. of Sheboygan, WI and Gary (Mary) Osborne of Fall Creek, WI; grandson, Matthew Osborne of Duluth, MN: and great grandson, Owen Osborne of Duluth, MN.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Donald Osborne, Sr.; her parents, Sherman and Elizabeth Kingery; and her brother Robert (Aileen) Kingery.

There was a memorial Mass for Mary at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1812 Lynn Ave. Altoona, WI, on February 13, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. Father Sagayaraj Augustine and Monsignor Edmund Klimek officiated. Friends gathered one half hour prior to services at the church. There will be a private burial of Mary’s ashes at a later date.

Friends may offer condolences online at www.fullerspeckien.com.

Fuller Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements