Gilford C. Osher, 1909-2002

OSHER

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 3/1/2009 at 09:57:26

WALLINGFORD - Funeral services for Gilford Clarence Osher, 92, of Wallingford will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10 at the Wallingford Lutheran Church in Wallingford with pastors Arlyn Norris, Vance Knutsen officiating. Interment will be held at Wallingford Lutheran Cemetery. He died on Saturday, April 6, 2002 at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville.

Visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. today at Henry-Olson-Fuhrman Funeral Home in Estherville.

Gilford was born on May 19, 1909 in Graettinger, the son of Edward B. and Kate (Jensen) Osher. He grew up on a farm southwest of Wallingford. He graduated from Graettinger High School.

On Oct. 22, 1932, Gilford was united in marriage to Myrtle B. Nelson in Wallingford. He owned his own business, Osher Flying Service for over 42 years.

During World War II Gilford was a civilian flight instructor for the military and lived in Texas and Seattle, Wash. After the war he returned to Wallingford and operated Osher Flying and Excavating along with his crop spraying service which he operated for 17 years. After his retirement, his winters were spent in Mission, Texas.

For hobbies, Gilford enjoyed gardening, especially raising vegetables, flowers and fruit trees. He also loved flying, fishing, bowling and golfing. Myrtle died June 20, 1992.

Gilford was a member of Wallingford Lutheran Church where he served on various church boards; he was a past member of the Wallingford City Council and the Wallingford Fire Department.

Gilford is survived by three daughters, Bernadette Neppl and her husband, Jerry, of Jacksonville, Ark., Marilee Wee and her husband, Gary, of Estherville, and Lu Ann Ostheimer and her husband, Gary of Windsor, Colo.; one son, Terry Osher of Wallingford; 12 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren, nine great-great grandchildren and three sisters, Geneva Knutsen and her husband, Vance of California, Ruth Nelson and her husband, Darrel of Des Moines and Esther Thu and her husband, Glenden of Graettinger.

He was preceded in death by his wife; one daughter, Phyllis; one granddaughter, Mary Neppl; one great granddaughter, Jessica Wee; five brothers, Almer, Norman, Leonard, Ernest and John.

Contributed by: Ruth Hackett. Source: Estherville Daily News, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa; April 9, 2002.