Carolyn Sue Osborn

MADISON – Funeral service for Carolyn Sue Osborn, 74, of Enola, NE will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 17, 2023 at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Madison. Officiating the service will be Pastor Caitlin Bentzinger. Inurnment will be held at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 at the Osborn Cemetery, rural Battle Creek. Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Thursday, also at the church in Madison. Carolyn passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 12, 2023 at her home, rural Enola surrounded by her family. Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk is in charge of the arrangements. Carolyn Sue Osborn was born in Wayne, Ne to Floyd and Pearl (Thompson) Glassmeyer on June 19, 1949. Carolyn spent her early years on the family farm near Wayne and attended Hahn School, an early teaching lab for the Wayne State teachers’ college. The summer of her 8th grade year, the rural school district was going to dissolve with less than 7 students, so her father made her go to the rural school in order to save it- she was not happy! She graduated from Wayne High School in 1967 and attended Wayne State College, pursuing a teaching degree. During college, she took a year off and moved to Princeton Illinois, where she stayed with Aunt Ellie and Uncle Don, worked at Gambles hardware store and spent time with her cousins. Carolyn moved to Norfolk where she rented her own apartment, finished her studies and worked at Jake’s bar, where she met Glen Osborn Jr. Immediately after graduation, she taught in Mullen, Ne in a one-room schoolhouse, which had 4 students from 2 ranch families. The school was on skids and moved around the western prairie according to which ranch had students. The teacher's house came with a dog and a bull snake - one to keep the rattlesnakes away and the other to eat the rats and mice. Glen Jr courted Carolyn by flying to her in western Nebraska in his Cessna single engine plane. The couple married June 14, 1974 and moved to the farm near Enola with their daughter, Cindy, where they grew their family- 3 daughters in 3.5 years! She taught school in Cornlea, Ne for a year. She was always a loving and kind mother and a hard-working farm wife. She was involved with everything from moving the cattle, to mending the fence, hauling the beans and chopping the weeds. Carolyn went back to teaching after Elizabeth, Angela and Jennifer started school. She taught social studies, then special education, then taught K-8 in a rural school in Stanton County. She landed at District #48 near Madison and taught there for 20 years. Carolyn loved every one of her students, and especially enjoyed helping students who were challenging or had a different way of learning. Carolyn ended her teaching career in Madison Public schools as the elementary’s reading coach, where she worked with teachers to help them teach children to read. Carolyn was strong and loving and a very creative person. As a young person she designed her own space, created her own paint colors, learned the delicate sewing of the satin stitch and put all of her heart into school art projects. As an adult she channeled her creativity into the way she taught - she adapted her style and efforts for each child and approached the challenge of reading, writing and math in ways that connected with each child. She loved to travel and never stopped learning. She was proud of her daughters graduating from college, and her 11 grandchildren. She hosted the holiday gatherings, took care of everyone around her, and was generous in time and deed. Even as she experienced memory loss, she was kind and loving and always happy to see a friendly face. She was truly a special person who will be missed by many. Carolyn is preceded in death by her spouse of 49 years, Glen Jr., her parents, Pearl and Floyd, her parents-in- law Lois and Glen Osborn Sr. She is survived by her children, Cynthia Jean (Vic), Elizabeth (Kyle), Angela and Jennifer (Billy), 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Organist will be Jan Hake. Pallbearers will be Matthew Laurnen, Kyle Laurnen, Jesse “Ralphie” Osborn, Chase Osborn, Theron Osborn, Tiegan Bowers, and Karla Mendoza. Honorary pallbearers will be Serenity Osborn, Easton Osborn, Ryleanna Waggoner, Elijah Ward, Eleanor Laurnen, Everly Osborn, and Josiah Osborn. Memorials may be sent to 55229 833rd Road, Madison, NE 68748. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Carolyn Sue Osborn

June 19, 1949 - November 12, 2023