Glen Osborn
Age - 89
December 6, 2023
Glen Randall Osborn, of Battle Creek went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 3rd, 2023, at the age of 89.
Glen was born in Battle Creek, Mich. , on October 4th, 1934 to Randall F. and Dorothy E. Osborn. While a young boy, it was clear that Glen had a strong work ethic and was soon the local neighborhood newspaper delivery boy, caddied for Golfers at the BC Country Club and took any other job he could land. Summers were also a special time for Glen, as he fondly recalled many memories of traveling to one of his grandparents on the train, to spend several weeks at their farm outside Keokuk, Iowa.
Excelling in the music programs at Lakeview, Glen graduated in 1953, and remained a faithful Lakeview Spartan, in spite of his wife, and later, all his children and many of his grandchildren being BCCHS graduates. While still in high school and as a member of the First Baptist Church, he met Frances Norris, who he fell deeply in love with and they were married on June 27th, 1953, together for 52 wonderful years, until her passing in 2005. There is no greater example of 'agape' love than what he showed for Frances.
From his graduation and until 1956, and now with a growing family, Glen worked numerous jobs, including Fales Food Market, the A & P, Eaton, Oliver Aviation, New York Central Office, Consumers Power and finally, in 1956 secured employment at Ralston's, starting his 38-year career by manually loading and unloading railroad box cars.
After almost eight years at Ralston, and now with four children, Glen enrolled in college, took a pay cut and entered into the Electrician skilled trades program. After several years of schooling and apprenticeship, Glen successfully gained his Associates Degree from Kellogg Community College, progressed through the four levels to "Class A Electrician"; which he would maintain until his retirement in February 1994.
When Glen was not in school, trips and camping with his family, he was leading a Church Youth group, serving as an active Church Deacon, Bible Study Leader, and where his passion was, was as a Music Leader. While providing music leadership at either First Baptist Church and Level Park Baptist, he also was active with the Valentine / Burnam Brook Men's Chorus, and after the passing of Giff Richards, Glen assumed the honor of being their music leader from 1997 to 2015. Music was always a huge part of Glen's life, and his ability to proficiently play numerous brass instruments, with the trumpet his favorite, also the piano; which he even taught classes for, and for some unexplained reason, he even taught himself to play the banjo. His legacy of music continues throughout his family, with children and grandchildren actively involved in music.
With everything Glen had going on, he still made family a priority, attending the football games, band events, soccer, T-Ball, etc. and all sorts of activities his grandchildren were involved with. Glen and Frances would also focus on a couple of the grandchildren each summer and take them on vacations, many times to Ludington, MI, where you would likely find Glen the first at Stearns Park beach and the last to leave that evening after watching a beautiful sunset. Later Glen would see similar sunsets while off the coast of Alaska. While traveling in Europe, Glen was able to watch the Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany Passion Play, which is only performed every 10 years. Whether he was taking a ride on a Hot Air Balloon, or 'whipping-it into passing gear', or 'waiting for the "green light" on a camera', time with Glen was full of genuine laughter and joy.
Glen truly met the definition of a "gentleman" and showed in action his "servant's heart". It is difficult to even determine the number of people whose lives he blessed, whether it was leading in music ministry, providing transportation services, preparing and serving food at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen and/or his ministry as a Deacon. Glen was always a very active part of ministry, when he was a member of the First Baptist Church, or later at Level Park Baptist and recently, at Lakeside Baptist Church. As Glen left us, it is with no uncertainty that we remember the verse from Matthew 25:21, ". . . Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful. . . "
Glen was preceded in death by his loving wife, Frances (Norris), his parents, and his daughter-in-law, Debbie Ann. He is survived by his four children, Daniel (Linda) Osborn, Mark (Sally) Osborn, Stephen (Peggy) Osborn and Debbie (Mark) Wallace; Grandchildren, Jason (Julie) Osborn, Chad (Terri) Osborn, Justin Osborn, Ryan Osborn, RayAnn Osborn, Rachel (Scott) Frommert, Dane (Heather) Osborn, Karri MacFarland, Michael Wallace, Josh (Ashlynn) Wallace and in 2003, Tamara Sutton; seventeen great grandchildren and his sister, Gayle (Dale) Mackinder.
Visitation will be on Friday, December 8, 2023 from 10:00 a. m. to 11:30 a. m. with funeral service to follow at 11:30 a. m. at Bachman Hebble Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donation may be made to Lakeside Baptist Church or Meals on Wheels. Personal messages to the family or favorite memories of Glen may be placed at www. bachmanhebble. com.Show more
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