Ollie Osborne

For Oliver Osborne, family was the greatest source of strength and happiness in his life. He loved his four children unconditionally, and many of his happiest memories involved the sixty-one years he spent with his beloved wife, Marilyn. OK had a natural social talent that always left people charmed and smiling, and he was a good friend to the many people he knew throughout life.

Our little OK (as his Dad and Mom called him) was born in Rockford, IL on July 5, 1918. Anna, his mother, was a nurse and his father, Clinton, was a football coach as well as coaching many other sports at the high school and college level. He was joined three years later by sister, Barbara Jean, who completed the family.

OK grew up in LaGrange, IL, with summers at Highland lake, where he developed a love for fishing and hunting. He attended Lyons Township High School and graduated in 1936. In high school, OK drove a 1921 Dodge which had a unique security system…that was hiding the gearshift up in a tree branch so no one could drive the car away!

The family took camping trips out west every summer visiting many National Parks and fed the bears at Yellowstone before this practice was halted. OK attended Beloit College where he majored in Economics and joined the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He worked at the A&P Grocery and cleaned different campus buildings.

WWII was just starting as OK graduated from college in 1941, so he joined the Navy and attended Midshipman’s School at Northwestern University, graduating as a Commissioned Naval Officer. From there, he went to torpedo school and then aboard the first destroyer, the USS Parrott. Serving aboard the destroyer USS Murphy, there were many highlights of those war years; such as escorting King Ibn Saud of Arabia to meet with President Roosevelt at the Great Bitter Lake, being on a destroyer that collided with Merchantmen in Norfolk harbor while the captain jumped overboard, and being part of the occupation of forces in Japan.

It was at Electro Motive Division, where Ollie was a buyer that he fell in love with Marilyn Neal, who sat three desks away. Ollie and Marilyn were married in a candle light ceremony on Valentine’s Day in 1948. They built a home to raise their growing family of Ollie, Barry, Randy and Loren in Downers Grove, IL. Ollie became the purchasing agent for Fisher Body Division of General Motors. Ollie also continued in the Navy as a reserve officer attaining the rank of Captain before retirement.

The family always had lots of pets; dogs, cats, rabbits, ducks, guinea pigs and even a pony. When Ollie was transferred to the Fisher Body Plant in Kalamazoo, MI in 1970, he and Marilyn bought a 160 acre farm and then the pets got bigger; cows, sheep and horses. In 1975, GM offered an early retirement and Ollie thought about it long and hard. In fact, by the next morning, he decided to retire.

The next few years found him busy around the farm with the cattle herd which now had grown to about thirty head. Ollie and Marilyn decided that it was time to move to a smaller place, so they sold the farm and began building a new house at Indian Run Golf Course. It was completed and they moved in in 1981.

In the years since, they have done a lot of traveling. They went to Hawaii in June 1973 in celebration of their Silver Wedding Anniversary (2-14-1973), traveled to Europe to see the 350th annual Passion Play in Sept. 1984, and the International Naval Reunion and Expo 88 in Sydney, Australia. Attending Domestic and International 4 Stacker Asiatic Fleet Naval Reunions has been a meaningful pastime for the couple. Ollie had kept busy in many organizations. He served on the Goodwill Board of Directors for four years, two as chairman, and had been involved in the Navy League and GM Retirees. Ollie continued to hunt, enjoyed football games, collected decoys and enjoyed the outdoors. Additionally he looked forward to attending the annual homecoming events at Beloit College.

Ollie survived prostrate surgery and cancer in 1988-1989. He served as Supt. of Country Christian Evangelical Church for three years and joined Westminster Presbyterian Church in May 1995. He and Marilyn celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Feb. 14, 1998.

OK lived a full life, rich with love and cherished memories. Sadly for the last six months, OK suffered with symptoms of Dementia, but maintained his dignity to the end. Many who know OK from WWII to current, describe him as an officer and a gentleman.

Although OK will be deeply missed, his legacy of love, and dedication, leaves his loved ones with wonderful memories and a strong foundation to look to for comfort.

Oliver K. Osborne of Scotts, MI died on Monday, October 19, 2009, at Kairos Dwelling in Kalamazoo. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marilyn (Neal) Osborne; 4 children: Oliver (Joyce E.) Osborne of Portsmith, VA, Barry (Christine) Osborne of Jonesborough, TN, Randy Osborne of Chicago, IL and Loren D. Osborne of Scotts, MI; seven grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; and one sister, Barbara Jean (Dr. Paul E.) Hodgson of Omaha, NE.

Learn more about OK and visit with his family and friends on Thursday, October 22, from 5-8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (375-2900). Burial with full military honors will take place on Friday, October 23, at 10 a.m. at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. A memorial service to honor his life will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church with Revs. Janet and Jerry Duggins officiating. A time of food and fellowship will follow the service at the church. Please visit OK’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may sign his online guest book or share a memory and photo with his family. Memorial contributions may be made to the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation, 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW-Ste. 123; Washington, DC or Beloit College – Director of Development, Mr. Tim McKearn, 700 College St.; Beloit, WI 53511.