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Luke Osborn

Luke Osborn passed away on Oct. 12, 2018, after battling cancer for one and a half years. He went to heaven at 9:45 p.m., leaving a room filled with family and friends crying, praying, singing hymns, loving him and touching him one last time. His father Andy says, “His life of almost 20 years has touched all of us in a profound way. Luke loved God and lived true to his faith. I am so proud of him and the good fight he fought, and I feel privileged to have been his earthly father. He was a wonderful son and best friend to me, a favorite big brother to eight siblings, and a sensitive, compassionate friend to all who knew him.”

Luke, the second of nine children, was born Oct. 28, 1998. Primarily homeschooled, he also attended NICS his sophomore year and then enrolled in the Kootenai Technical Education Campus carpentry program with instructor, Colby Mattila, plus he took classes at North Idaho College toward a business degree. During the summer of 2016, he worked as a University of Idaho intern for Nick Smoot, and then worked for Pinkerton Retirement Services. He had the heart of an entrepreneur.

Luke enjoyed sports such as ultimate frisbee, volleyball and pickleball. Bicycling, backpacking and swimming were also favorites. He ran cross country and track with Charter Academy.

Luke was gifted at music and started learning piano at a young age with his dad. He continued lessons with Lydia Peabody, Miriam Coleman and Dia Hill, and eventually took lessons from North Idaho College instructors Debbie O’Dell and Dwayne Huff. His love of singing was much appreciated by choir directors Caroline Johnson, Tanya Hill, Logan Ownbey and Neil Craig. Luke also played hand chimes with his family for many years under Judy Flieger at the Presbyterian Church.

The instrument that Luke will be most remembered for is the violin. His neighbor, Dina Blas, gave him hour-long lessons when he was seven and eight years old. For seven summers he attended fiddle camps, learning from national fiddle champions Kimber Ludiker and Katrina Nicolayeff. He and his siblings learned numerous fiddle tunes from memory, which they played at Farmers Markets next to their lemonade booth and at sidewalk performances during Art on the Green. In 2012 they won the grand prize in Hayden’s Got Talent.

Around age 11, Luke’s interests broadened to classical violin and viola. Scott Grunsted became an influential musical mentor, encouraging him to tackle tough pieces and reach his full potential. After working on it for two years, Luke performed the complex Mendelssohn Violin Concerto — a feat accomplished by few violinists. (See CDA Press article at https://bit.ly/2NP8eb0). Luke stated, “I like to see people enjoy the music that I perform. I feel it’s a blessing to them.”

Grunsted agrees. “His public performances were inspiring to all.”

At age 15, after gaining experience with local orchestras, Luke auditioned for the professional Helena Symphony Orchestra. He performed in Helena, Mont., for four and a half seasons with Maestro Allen Scott, until he could no longer play due to cancer. In August, Maestro Scott came to Coeur d’Alene and spent an afternoon with Luke in his hospital room.

Luke was a major player in the Osborn Family Band and the Osborn String Quartet, performing many times throughout the Pacific Northwest. (See CDA Press article at https://bit.ly/2EEU0Ku) Luke and his sisters wowed the crowds with their combination of beautiful classical pieces and upbeat fiddle tunes.

The family would like to thank the numerous friends and teachers who invested in Luke’s life.

Surviving Luke are his parents, Andy and Susanne; siblings, Katelyn, Lindy, Kiersti, Daniel, Janae, Elisa, Faith and Joel; paternal grandparents, Ozzie and Kris Osborn; maternal grandparents, Ray and Carolyn Chaffee; and various aunts, uncles and cousins.

A memorial service is planned for 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, at Coeur d’Alene Bible Church, 5350 N. Fourth St.

An account has been set up to help with expenses: www.gofundme.com/luke-and-osborn-family