Arthur Henry Osberg

Osberg Arthur Henry Osberg, age 87, passed away peacefully in Madison, Wisconsin on Monday, October 21, 2002, surrounded by his three children, Carole (William) Wenerowicz, David (Carolyn) Osberg, and Lorene (Norman) Ritland and many devoted caregivers at Attic Angel Place. Lois, his beloved wife of 57 years, preceded him in death on September 20, 2001. Born June 22, 1915, in Chicago, Illinois, Art was the third child of Signe and Hjalmar Osberg and lived there in the Swedish immigrant neighborhood at 59th and May until his service in the U.S. Army in 1942. He attended Copernicus School and graduated in 1931 from Lindblom High School at age 16. His banking career spanned eleven years beginning as a bank messenger in 1931 and culminating as an assistant bank examiner for the FDIC. During those years, he earned a diploma in commerce from Northwestern University, Chicago Campus, and studied finance at the Graduate School of Banking, Rutgers University extension. Stationed in Auckland, New Zealand from 1942 to 1946, Art was Chief Clerk in the U.S. Army Finance Office and achieved the grade of Master Sergeant. It was in Auckland that he met Lois Clark. They married there on March 15, 1944, and their daughter Carole was born in November 1945. In 1946, the family moved to Minneapolis, where David was born in May 1947, followed by Lorene in June 1950. Art obtained his C.P.A. degree from the State of Minnesota in 1951. That year, the family moved to Bedford Avenue in Edina, and soon after, Art became a partner in the Bedford and Osberg accounting firm, auditing many banks, farms, creameries and cooperatives in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. Eventually the firm became the Osberg Accounting Office, where Lois joined him as office manager. They worked together until their retirement in 1988. After nearly fifty years in their home, Art and Lois moved to Madison, Wisconsin in September 2000 to be nearer their children and grandchildren. It was a great source of pride to Art that he was continuously employed from age 16 until his retirement at age 73, and that he had mentored young associates in the accounting profession. Art was a regular member of the Lakers Toastmaster Club from 1947 to 1975. Upon his retirement in 1988, he joined the Zephyrus Toastmaster Club and was an active member until 1999, where he was known for his endearing smile, wit, wisdom and easy graceful manner. He had undergone successful coronary bypass procedures in 1975 and 1993 and volunteered weekly in the Mended Heart program at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, visiting heart-procedure patients and their families. He was most proud of his family and particularly enjoyed the annual family gatherings each summer since 1988 at Rainbo Lodge in Vilas County, where he enjoyed fishing and visiting with his children and grandchildren, Eric (Christina) Osberg, Carl Osberg, Andrea Ritland and Lisa Ritland. His sister Marian (Earl) Carlstedt, Chicago, his sister-in-law Virginia Osberg, Sun City, Arizona, and many other wonderful relatives and friends survive him. His beloved and deeply missed brothers and sister, Edward, Elmer and Helen preceded him in death. The family especially thanks all the caregivers and staff at Attic Angel Place for their kind care and support. A celebration of Art's life will be held in the community room at ATTIC ANGEL PLACE, 8301 Old Sauk Road, Middleton, Wisconsin at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, 2002. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the American Heart Association or the donor's favorite charity. Cress Funeral Service (608) 238-3434

Published on October 23, 2002