Ronald Douglas Osborne, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend, passed away on December 18, 2021 at the Kamloops Seniors Village, Kamloops, Thompson Country, British Columbia, Canada with his beautiful wife Coleen at his side. He was 91 years old.
Ron is the only child of Margaret Osborne (née Elson) of Eton, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom, and Clare Douglas Osborne of St. Thomas, Elgin, Ontario, Canada. He was born on May 13th, 1930 in St. Thomas, Ontario. He is survived by his loving wife Edna “Coleen” Osborne (née Smith) and son Bruce DeMont “Monty” Nelson and wife Catherine Ann Nelson (née Gomery) of Kamloops, British Columbia, son Kevin Douglas Osborne and wife Jenni Mina Michelle Osborne (née Gough) of Moses Lake, Washington, United States, and son Darryl Stuart Osborne and wife Lisa Ann Osborne (née Johnston) of St. George, Utah, United States. Their daughter, Roberta “Bobbie” Colleen Nelson preceded him in death in 1998.
He is the grandfather “Grandad” to Monty and Cathy’s sons Ryan DeMont Nelson and wife Jamie Lee Nelson (née Bailey) of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada, Matthew Dean Nelson and wife Jennifer Lee Nelson (née Boyle) of Kamloops, British Columbia, and Jeffrey Thomas Nelson and wife Chanel Leigh Nelson (née Wills) of Kamloops, British Columbia; Kevin and Jenni’s son Kenneth Douglas Osborne and wife Rachel Osborne (née Richardson) of Laie, Hawaii, United States, and daughter Jana Coleen Hansen (née Osborne) and husband Chris Hansen of Provo, Utah, United States; and Darryl and Lisa’s daughter Elle Addison Ewell (née Osborne) and husband Richard Austin Ewell of St. George, Utah, United States, son Breckin Chase Osborne and wife Lauren Elizabeth Osborne (née Stansel) of Rexburg, Idaho, United States, and daughter Kennedy Tjej Osborne of St. George, Utah, United States. He is the great grandfather of Ryan and Jamie’s sons James, Austin, Mason, and Corbin Nelson; Matt and Jenn’s daughter Autumn Nelson; and Jeff and Chanel’s sons Cadence, Blake, and Zane Nelson, and daughter Zoe Nelson.
Ron grew up in St. Thomas, Ontario, surrounded by a loving family, including his aunt Ivah Elaine Newsome (née Osborne) and husband Jesse Newsome, and their daughter, Ron’s cousin, Lois Elaine Coleman (née Newsome). He had fond memories going to the cabin in Port Rowen, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, on the banks of Lake Erie, where they had family get-togethers, picnics, played catch (baseball), fished from row boats, and played lots of cards. His love of playing card games, without a doubt, came of his childhood, which he carried with him throughout his life, teaching his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids how to play games like Crazy Eights and Seven Up. Ron had a very close relationship with his dad, and reminisced often of the good times they spent together. He reflected on these times often during the last few days of his life, and these wonderful thoughts always brought joy and smiles to his face. He loved his dad very very much. Many of his life’s passions, like baseball and railroads, came from his dad. Clare worked for the New York Central Railroad, which operated through St. Thomas, Ontario. This allowed Ron to take many train trips over to Detroit, Michigan to watch the Detroit Tigers play at Briggs (Tiger) Stadium with his dad. Later on in life he got a job as a railroad surveyor, and spent lots of time on the rail. He attended Queens University, a public university in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, where he graduated with a degree in engineering. This engineering degree landed him a job for the City of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. During his lengthy career at the City of Calgary, which spanned 46 years, he worked on projects like the design and construction of Crowchild Trail, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system and other roadways and transit infrastructure in Calgary.
Ron met the love of his life, a beautiful woman named Edna Coleen Nelson (née Smith) square dancing at a dance sponsored by Calgary Jaycees, of which Ron was a member. Coleen, at the time, was a young, struggling widow with two small children, her son Monty Nelson and daughter Roberta Nelson. The thought of having an instant family didn’t scare Ron off and their love continued to flourish. On September 25, 1965, Ron and Coleen were married on a snowy day at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on 17th Avenue, S.W. in Calgary, Alberta.
Ron and Coleen started expanding their family soon after their marriage, with the birth of their sons Kevin in early 1967 and Darryl in mid 1968. Most of their married life was spent in a beautiful home in the Rutland Park community in southwest Calgary, Alberta, where they were active in the community and their church. Ron was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and had a strong testimony of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the restored gospel. He shared his testimony often with everyone he met, regardless of where he was. Ron and Coleen were called to serve as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Canada Toronto West Mission and the Salt Lake Temple Square Mission. He accepted many church callings in the Calgary 4th, 5th, and 16th wards within the Calgary Alberta Stake.
Ron developed great love, respect, and admiration for his uncle, Kenneth Willis Osborne. This family bond strengthened over the years as many family vacations included visits to Detroit, Chicago, and Orlando to see uncle Ken. Ken reciprocated by visiting Ron and Coleen in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on numerous occasions.
While he received much success, respect, and accolades for his accomplishments at the City of Calgary and accepting many leadership callings within his Church, the greatest success, and that which he is most fond of, is the legacy of being a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and patriarch of an eternal family, one that has grown to 32 within just 56 years, and which will continue to grow through the eternities.
We are grateful for the kind and caring staff, nurses, and special caregivers of the Royal Inland Hospital and the Kamloops Seniors Village, who cared for him during the last few months of his life and who helped make him comfortable and peaceful while he passed.
A Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – 17th Ave. Stake Centre (2021 17 Ave SW, Calgary) on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 11:00 am. A visitation will take place from 10:00 until 10:45 am prior to the service at the Church. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, December 29 at 12:00 noon at the Cardston, Alberta Cemetery.
Share
Tweet
Pin
Share
Service
Funeral Service
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 17th Avenue Stake Centre
2021 17 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
11:00 am
Visitation prior to service 10:00 – 10:45 am
Graveside Service
Cardston Cemetery
Cardston, Alberta
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
12:00 p.m.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Ronald Douglas Osborne 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Calgary, Province: Alberta