James Perry Osborne 1931-2011

OSBORNE, HALSEY, HYATT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2013 at 12:35:13

Sioux City Journal
7 October 2011

SIOUX CITY -- James P. Osborne, 80, of Guthrie Center, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, died Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011, at Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Guthrie Center. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday in Iowa Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at Twigg Funeral Home in Guthrie Center. Condolences may be sent online to www.twiggfuneralhome.com.

James Perry Osborne was born in Meadow Grove, Neb., on Aug. 15, 1931, to Lucille (Halsey) Osborne and Fielden Osborne. He attended rural Nebraska schools and graduated from Meadow Grove High School in 1950. He continued his education at Norfolk Junior College in Norfolk, Neb., and attended one semester at the University of Nebraska before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1952. He was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. After his two-year service, he continued his college education at Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Mo. He graduated in 1957 and worked for six months for Ford Motor in Omaha.

Perry married Sue Hyatt in Sedalia, Mo., on Aug. 10, 1958. They moved to Norfolk, Neb., where Perry was a sales representative for General Mills. April was born in Norfolk, in 1960. Four years later, General Mills transferred the family to St. Louis, where Perry worked in the office as office manager. Their second child, Danette, was born in St. Louis. Three months later, General Mills again transferred Perry and family to Sioux City, where they remained until 1993 when Perry retired. He and Sue moved to Lake Panorama, Panora, Iowa.

Perry belonged to several service organizations including Toastmaster of America while living in Norfolk, Sertoma Club while in Sioux City, and Lions Club in Guthrie Center. He was a 50-plus year member of the American Legion and a lifetime member of the United Methodist Church. He had served as a dormitory mentor, church mentor, and national alum officer for Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. He received several district awards as top sales person for General Mills. He was an influential person in the organization of one of the first recycling attempts in Sioux City.

Perry was completely devoted to his wife, Sue; children, April (Mike) Nissly, Danette (Tim) Cox; grandchildren, Jaden and Chavis Nissly, Austin and Aundrea Cox; sisters, Barbara Draucker and Carolyn Butterfield; the service organizations he belonged to; his church; and his country.

Perry was preceded in death by his parents; and two brother-in-laws.