Gary Osterberg

Gary was born to Evald and Edith Osterberg at home in Aurora, Wis. on Sept. 11, 1937. He attended high school in Kingsford, and graduated in 1955. After high school, Gary attended Seattle Pacific College and received his bachelor’s degree in education. Later in his career, Gary also attended UW-Superior and earned his masters degree in elementary administration.

In the spring of 1959, Gary met Marie Lindstrom, the love of his life, on a blind date at a bowling alley in Seattle. He and Marie were married on July 16, 1960, and lived on Osterberg Parkway their entire life. Early in their marriage, they bought Oscar Peterson’s farm and lived there for 28 years. In 1990, they moved further out the road to their current home on a parcel of land that had been purchased by Gary’s grandparents when they immigrated to the United States from Sweden.

Gary taught fifth through eighth grade and was the principal of Hillcrest and Florence Elementary Schools for 33 years before retiring in 1993. He loved being a teacher and touched the lives of many students, parents and fellow teachers. The respect from these years, as well as the love given, still resonates today.

Although his career kept him indoors, Gary was happiest when he was outside, working with his hands. Farm work, field work, cutting wood- he loved it all. He could do everything from plumbing and electrical work to framing, roofing, and pouring concrete. Any problem with his tractors, farm equipment, sawmills and truck could be fixed with “something in the garage”!

Always a thoughtful man, he got a lot of “therapy” when his head was stuck in a cow’s flank while milking by hand. Gary loved going to the woods, so after retiring from Florence schools, he purchased a Woodmizer sawmill and sawed more than 2 million board feet of lumber.

Gary loved athletics his entire life. When he was young, he liked playing baseball and most enjoyed playing right field. He also played football and was “the best center around” in those days.

This love continued into adulthood. Gary started the wrestling program for Florence High School and spent years on the chain gang at Friday night football games with his buddies, Jack Kriegl and David Olsen. He also was the best fast-pitch under arm pitcher in the church league with Hank Olson as his catcher.

Gary was a deeply spiritual, dedicated man of God. When he was 10, he attended Lake Lundgren Bible Camp and was led to accept the Lord as his personal Savior by his cabin counselor, Henning Peterson. He became a lifelong supporter of LLBC and found a way to get each of his children to camp, a tradition which continues with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Gary and Marie were dedicated members first of the Aurora Free Church, then the First Covenant Church in Iron Mountain. They enjoyed many trips and work projects through the SOWER (Servants On Wheels Ever Ready) program. In this mission work, he found another way to use his handyman skills for the glory of God, enjoying projects with new and old friends, with Dry Creek Bible Camp in LA being his favorite.

Gary did a lot of traveling in his lifetime. He and Marie traveled throughout the United States, Canada and several countries in Europe. He was always happy to be outdoors and loved the beauty of the national parks and Canadian wilderness. On a smaller scale, one of Gary’s favorite things to do was to go for a ride in his Ranger and stop in for coffee with any neighbor he might find at home. Many hours were spent in personal fellowship over a cup of coffee and whatever sweet treat was on hand.

Gary raised his six children to love the Lord, be strong, individual and hard working. He attended all of their sporting events, programs, and concerts. As exceptionally proud as he was of his children, he was even prouder of his grandchildren. He was a mentor and role mode, a true patriarch guiding his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with wisdom and grace. As a husband, father, grandfather, sibling, uncle, friend, teacher and mentor, he held hands, opened minds, touched hearts, and was loved by many.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Shortly after Gary and Marie first met at Seattle Pacific College, they wrote in each other’s yearbook, and by God’s providence, they discovered that they had written the same scripture to each other. The beautiful words from the book of Proverbs became their life verse.

Gary joins his parents, five siblings and several brothers-in-Christ in Heaven. He was especially anxious to see his brother Bob and John Arvid Carlson again. Gary (Boppa) will be deeply missed by his loving wife Marie; his six children, Gwen (Larry) Altmann, Kathy (Gary) Knapp, Sue (Darrel) Malek, Dan (Mary) Osterberg, Brian (Leah) Osterberg and Janet (Andy) Anderson; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; as well as many children and grandchildren of the heart.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Aurora Free Church followed by a Celebration of Life service at 2 p.m. with Pastor Karl Utzat officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Homestead-Aurora Cemetery.

Donations may be made in Gary’s memory to the Lake Lundgren Bible Camp or the Gideons.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Gary Walfred Osterberg online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.