Visitation:
Friday, May 2, 2025 from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. at Hurley
Funeral Home in Mason City, Illinois.
Service:
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 11 a.m. at the Mason City
United Methodist Church, burial to follow at
Richmond Grove Cemetery in New Holland.
Funeral home:
Hurley Funeral Home, Mason City, IL
Obituary
Donald (Don) Eugene Osborn, Sr., 86,
of Mason City, Illinois, passed away on Monday,
April 28, 2025, at St. John's Hospital in
Springfield, Illinois.
He was born on June 25, 1938, to
Harold and Violet (Brown) Osborn at home in rural
Hartsburg, Illinois, at the "home place," located in
Logan County.
He married Carolyn Montgomery on
April 8, 1962, in Mason City after meeting her while
roller skating. She preceded him in death on
December 2, 2023.
Don is survived by 3 children: 2
sons, Donald (Felicia) Osborn and Gregory (Jo Lynn)
Osborn both of Mason City; and a daughter Jennifer
(Ryan) Bizarri of Geneseo, Illinois. He had 4
grandchildren: Olivia Osborn, Abigale (Brayden)
Leamon, Phillip Osborn, and Taylor Bizarri, and one
great-granddaughter Stella Leamon.
He was preceded in death by his wife,
Carolyn Osborn, his parents, Harold and Violet
Osborn, grandparents, Harry and Lydia Osborn and Leo
and Lena Brown, 2 brothers, Harold “Sonny” Osborn,
II, David Osborn, and a sister Gloria Manes.
Don was a 1957 graduate of Hartsburg
High School. He grew up with a deep appreciation for
family, hard work, and kindness. During his
childhood he was a 4-H member and showed Herford
cattle at the Logan County Fair.
In 1962, Don and Carolyn built a
house in Rural Mason City on a multigenerational
farm. The most important things for Don were loving
and providing for his family and sharing his love
and pride for the Osborn family farm. Through his
hard work, honesty, and sacrifice, he instilled in
his family the belief that any dream could be
achieved.
He was active duty from 1961-1967 as
a Marksman with the Army National Guard. He worked
at Corn Products in Pekin, Illinois, and Mason
County Highway Department.
Don was a leader of the Pleasant
Workers 4-H club in the 1980’s. He enjoyed helping
his children and grandchildren with projects at the
Mason County Fair for almost 50 years. He was a
loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather,
and great-grandfather, who found joy in the simple
things such as watching car and horse races, making
pancakes, taking care of his animals and in his
early years driving his 1958 Chevy. |



He loved puzzles, country music,
whistling pretty melodies, solving Rubik's cubes,
telling the best stories, and talking with old and
new friends and family in Lincoln. He especially
enjoyed eating Carolyn’s home-cooked meals.
He liked talking about the family
tree, playing the same lotto ticket numbers for
years, watching basketball games and discussing gas
prices. Above all, he cherished time with his
family, especially his grandchildren, who he greeted
with his signature question, “How is my girl?” and
he also enjoyed spending time working outside with
his grandson. His legacy of kindness, humbleness,
providing for others, honesty and love will continue
to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
Visitation will be held on Friday,
May 2, 2025 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 PM at Hurley
Funeral Home in Mason City, Illinois. A funeral is
scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM at
the Mason City United Methodist Church, burial to
follow at Richmond Grove Cemetery in New Holland.
Memorial contributions may be made to
the Mason City United Methodist Church.
Online condolences can be left at
www.hurleyfh.com
Hurley Funeral Home in Mason City oversees the
arrangements.
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