On May 20, 2025, James passed away in his home peacefully, surrounded by family.
Funeral service will be held at 11:00am on May 31, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow at Minneopa Cemetery.
James Richard Osborne was born at home in Madelia, MN on February 23, 1932. He was the son of Lela and Arthur Osborne and became the best big brother to Sara Jane Osborne. He grew up in Madelia, where he attended elementary and high school.
James graduated from Madelia High School in 1950. Soon after, he enlisted in the Air Force to serve his country and gain an education. He served at Scott Air Force base in Illinois, Ellington Air Force base in Texas, and in South Korea, during the Korean War.
After his honorable discharge from the Air Force, he gained further electronics education at the State Teacher’s College in Mankato, MN.
He worked at AT&T in Fargo ND and at Honeywell in Minneapolis, MN. He then worked for the city of Madelia as a local police officer, before taking a job at 3M in New Ulm, MN as a quality control engineer.
It was there that he met Marilyn Karels, who after a brief courtship, would become his wife. They were married on October 8, 1966, in her parents' home. Through Marilyn, James was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and soon became a member. They were sealed in the Logan, UT Temple of the Church July 26, 1967.
Together, James and Marilyn became the parents of six children. James was very excited as each child joined the family and loved being a father. They lived for a short time in rural Blue Earth County, before moving to Nicollet, MN, where the family lived until after Marilyn passed away from cancer on February 9,1989.
Two years later James met Leonnie Rosner through a mutual friend, and they were married on July 30, 1991. They enjoyed spending time together cooking and baking, gardening, enjoying the outdoors, traveling, and serving in various church callings. They served in the Chicago, IL Temple and St.Paul, MN Temple, where James worked as a Sealer, aiding individuals to become forever families. James and Leonnie served other church missions in Malaysia and Beatty, NV.
For many years, James was involved in family history. He loved to search for his ancestors, as well as help others do the same. He worked as a family history consultant for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in North Mankato, MN with his wife Leonnie.
James loved his children very much and spent a great deal of time playing with them, singing with them in the car, and going on picnics and walks in the woods. He loved taking them to museums and historical sites. He loved watching them grow, seeing their achievements, and watching them welcome their own children into the world. James loved laughing and telling stories.
James was a lover of nature, flowers, and gardening, and spent many hours in the woods. In his younger years, he loved hunting and fishing. Since he was a boy, he loved dogs and had many over his lifetime. He loved to find the beauty in all of God's creations. He enjoyed watching birds, squirrels, deer, and opossums from his kitchen window. After losing his mobility, he loved watching the world outside his front window.
When his health declined, he was unable to be out and about as much and loved when friends and family would come visit.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved grandmother Sarah Cady, and his loving wife Marilyn.
He is survived by his wife Leonnie Osborne, sister Sara Jane Osborne, and all of his posterity; Anna (Tom) Schuster, Amy Osborne, Alice (Mark) Ploghoft, Andrew (Charity) Osborne, Abby (Tim) McGinnis, and Adrienne Osborne, five stepchildren. Steven Blackburn, Rodney Blackburn, Reed Blackburn, Shelly Farber and Kristina Otto, eighteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren. He’s also survived by C.J. Stemper and many other cousins and numerous friends.
The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Area Funeral Homes.
Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product. Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.
