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Thomas Lee Osborn Sr., 77

Thomas Lee Osborn Sr., 77, entered the pearly gates of heaven on Feb. 16, 2019, at 7:32 p.m. He is survived by his wife, Sheryl; her five children: Jimmy, David, Lori, Steven and Joe; several grandchildren and granddaughter, Lacy (Lori’s daughter), who he and Sheryl raised from a very young age. Tom is also survived by his six children: Jim, Karen, Dan, Debra, Ben and Tom Jr., and their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Tom was born in Chico, Calif., to Benjamin and Margaret Osborn, on April 30, 1941. He was preceded in death by his parents; their spouses; his brother, Robert (Bob) Warner and infant son, Michael.

Tom grew up in Chico and later Quincy, Calif., where he graduated high school in 1959. After high school, he moved to Reno to attend the University of Nevada, Reno, where he met his first wife, Rose Marie; the mother of his oldest three children. Rose Marie passed away due to complications of Type-1 diabetes in 1973.

He then met and married Socha, the mother of his youngest three children. They divorced, and in 1991, Tom Sr. and Tom Jr. moved to Boise, Idaho, and then Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where he remained until his passing.

He had a passion for boating, fishing, hunting and reading Louis L’Amour books and watching TV westerns — especially John Wayne movies. He was known for falling asleep in the chair, and if one wanted to change the station, he’d wake up and say, “I’m watching that.”

He excelled at everything he was involved in, from moving through the chairs and becoming Exalted Ruler of the Elks, to leading Flotilla 84 in the Coast Guard Auxiliary as the flotilla commander. He had a true passion for the water and safety for others in it.

Tom’s career started in finance at Sears & Roebuck; he then became a finance manager for many Reno-area banks. He eventually moved on to become a real estate appraiser, to which he held many state licenses and designations which he maintained until his retirement.

Tom was a good father and grandfather and will be deeply missed by many.

A celebration of life was held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019, at the Life Care Center; 500 W. Aqua Lane, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Arrangements have been entrusted to English Funeral Chapel. Please sign Tom’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.