Gerald (“Jerry,” “Papa”) Raymond Osowski, 80, of Lutsen, formerly of Brooklyn Park, MN passed away at his home, Friday, January 18, 2019.
Jerry was born in Little Falls, MN on April 10, 1938, to Raymond and Mary Osowski. Jerry was raised in Little Falls, graduating from Little Falls High School in 1956.
Following high school, Jerry served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a Guardsman based at USCGG Castle Rock serving on the Nova Scotia for two years. Jerry first worked for the railroad and then for 30 years as a truck driver for the Local Teamsters 120.
Unfortunately, Jerry’s mother and father passed away in his early adult years. Family was very important to him and he stayed close to his aunts, uncles and cousins, visiting them often.
When Jerry married his beloved wife Susie on July 29, 1961, he embraced her family entirely. Her mother and father became his and her sisters and brother all loved Jerry. Jerry always was there for his mother and father-in-law and they adored him. Jerry stayed by his father-in-law’s bedside the last six days of his life. He was a very loving son and brother to his wife Susie’s family.
Jerry and Susie had their three children, each one a year apart— Raymond “Ray” Alfred, Michael “Mike” John, and Edie Marie. Jerry put his wife and family first. In 1991, he and his wife Susie renewed their wedding vows, sold their home they raised their children in, in Brooklyn Park and moved into their dream retirement home on the shores of Lake Superior in Lutsen, Minn.
Jerry retired at the young age of 57 and looked forward to retiring with his loving wife of 30 years. His retirement dreams were shattered, and life was forever changed when his wife Susie and mother of his children unexpectedly passed away on January 21, 1995 while they were snowshoeing near their home in Lutsen.
Jerry stayed with his children in Minneapolis often during the years he grieved. During these years, his beloved grandchildren, two at the time, Zack & Jake, brought Jerry great joy and purpose! In 2008, Jerry was blessed again with his daughter’s “miracle baby”, Blake. Jerry loved babies and adored all his grandchildren.
After eleven years had passed, in 2006, Jerry placed an ad in the Companion Column of the Duluth Reader searching for “sweetness & charm.” His quest was quickly answered when Karen answered his ad. They met and were soon married on July 1, 2006. Jerry and Karen were married for almost 13 years. They enjoyed the great outdoors together – hiking, biking, gardening and more.
Jerry and Karen traveled often visiting family and friends. They were very similar in many ways- –they shared many of the same thoughts and interests. Jerry’s children will be forever grateful to Karen for taking such good care of their Dad in his last years.
Jerry loved the water. And he was especially intrigued by the beauty and history of Lake Superior—the ships, the weather, its vastness and power. He loved to walk shorelines searching for driftwood that he would later creatively use in his artistic masterpieces. He also really enjoyed building and tending campfires on the beach.
Jerry enjoyed hiking, was a downhill skier, and loved adventure and a good challenge. He climbed to the top of the Grand Tetons in Jackson Hole, Wyoming while he took his family on vacation there. Jerry loved motorcycles and he and his wife Susie would take long motorcycle vacations to the west coast (CA & WA) and they would visit their relatives. Jerry also loved taking his fishing boat out on Lake Superior.
Jerry loved to read books (including the dictionary). He read his Bible and loved the Lord. Jerry was a movie enthusiast—he loved to watch documentaries and many different movie genres. Jerry loved history and he was the guy you wanted on your team if you were playing Trivia. Jerry was very nostalgic, he was a poet and gifted writer. He framed his favorite poems he wrote and displayed them in his home and garage (the “man cave”). He was an artist and painted beautiful pictures and built many cool pieces over his 80 years. Jerry was very creative, he was an innovator, a deep thinker and he loved his hats!
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife Susan “Susie” Monica (Baldeschwiler) Osowski, his brother Lawrence Osowski, his father Raymond Henry Osowski, his mother Mary Josephine (Saulter) Osowski, his Father-in-Law Alfred Leo Baldeschwiler, his Mother-in-Law Grace Martha Baldeschwiler, his Brother-in-Law Nick Baldeschwiler, Sister-in-Law Mary Baldeschwiler, and his Sister-in-Law Alfy Danielewicz.
He is survived by his caring wife Karen Kay Osowski, his children Raymond (Brenda), Michael (Cindy) and Edie (Tom) Harer, Denise (David) Samuel, Scott (Dawn) Bierma, his grandchildren Zachary (Katie) Osowski, Jason “Jake” Osowski (Ariana), Blake Berglund, Zachary, Christopher, Ashley, Gavin, Breckin, Finley, Ryland and Fowler, his Godchildren Todd (Sherri) Osowski and Mary (David) Herren, his Sisters-in-Law Lila McEwen and Ellen Zaborowski, and many of his nieces, nephews and cousins.
Private visitation will be held for immediate family. Home Going Prayer and Interment Service with Military Honors will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at St. Vincent DePaul Cemetery (9100 93rd Avenue North – Brooklyn Park). All are welcome to join Jerry’s family at the cemetery and a Celebration of Life gathering, including food, immediately following the ceremony hosted by Jerry’s family at his daughter’s home (Tom & Edie Harer, 15830 Andrie Street NW, Ramsey, MN 55303).
May God bring peace, love, comfort and grace to all that grieve, and may God help each of Jerry’s loved ones recall, remember and cherish all the great years of Jerry’s life. We love you Dad.
To sign the online register book please visit www.cavallinfuneralhome.com
Leave a Reply