Taylor County, Iowa: Mildred Pollert Osburn articles and obit

Mildred Pollert Osburn
submitted by: LINDA KESTNER <lfkestner3@msn.com>

*From The Bedford Times-Press, Wednesday, January 9, 2002:* Mildred Osburn of Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center spent Sunday Dec. 23, in the home of her daughter, Clarice Meredith. Others present were James and Doris John, Clinton, IA; Todd and Claudia Hebing and Adam, Oakland; Melvin and Linda Miers, Aaron, Clarinda; Steve Meredith, Omaha, NE; Janet and Garry Gsell, Terry Norfolk, NE; Randy and Darla Morland, Drew and Dustin, Sydney; Dick and Sandy Meredith, Jason and Keri and Bob Osburn, Bedford, Amy and Mark Kard, Kalee, Konner, Clarinda; and Angie Miers and friend, Des Moines. Saturday the family celebrated Mildred's 100th birthday. Nine members of the family came from Albuquerque, NM, to help her celebrate along with local family members. *From The Bedford Times-Press, Wednesday, January 23, 2002:* Mildred Osburn celebrates 100th Birthday Mildred Osburn celebrated her 100th birthday on January 19. Celebrations were held on December 29 and January 19. Mildred lived in her home until August of 2001 when she moved to Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center. She has called Bedford home since she was 12 years old and knows a wealth of history. Ask her who owned the blacksmith shop where Mike's Radiator Shop is now or what business was located where Bedford Building Supply is and Mildred knows. Local historians often come to Mildred to fill in the blanks of Bedford's history. Mildred said everyone used to come to town on Saturday night. "Saturday night was a big night," said Mildred. "Television ruined that." She has seen a lot in her lifetime, two world wars, depression, man on the moon, inventions of cars, electricity, telephone, and now the computer age. Mildred said the depression made the biggest impact on her. "The depression was hard. I wondered how we lived through it." Mildred graduated from Bedford in 1919 and was a school teacher in 1920 and 1921 at the Platteville and Nash Country Schools. Her teaching career ended when she married. Mildred and her husband, Walter, lived on a farm southeast of Bedford and raised five children, Bob and Clarice of Bedford; Ed of Albuquerque, N.M.; Bill, New York; and Doris of Clinton, Iowa. Farm life kept her busy with raising and selling chickens, making butter, and raising a family. "We worked hard then, but we didn't think about it," recalls Mildred. Mildred said the one thing she always wanted to do was drive. "I wanted to, but no one wanted to teach me," said Mildred. Mildred has enjoyed making quilts for all her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Failing eyesight does not allow her to do that anymore. She is the oldest living charter member of the Bedford Methodist Church and the oldest living Bedford graduate. Belated birthday wishes may be sent to Mildred at Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center. The Bedford Times-Press Wednesday, November 20, 2002 MILDRED OSBURN Funeral services for Mildred Osburn, age 100 of Bedford, who died Wednesday, November 13, 2002, were held Saturday, November 16, 2002, at 11 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home with Pastor Ted DeHass officiating. Interment was held at the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford. Memorials can be directed to the Taylor County Historical Society. Mildred Osburn was born January 19, 2002 in Tingley, Iowa, the daughter of Rawley Pollock and Eliza Thorla Pollock. Mildred had one brother, Wilfred. Mildred grew up in the Tingley area, later moving to Bedford where she attended Bedford High School, graduating in 1919. She taught school for one year in Platteville, moving with her family for a short time to Colorado. When she returned to Bedford she taught for one year in Sharpsburg. She was united in marriage to Walter Osburn on September 1, 1921 at the United Methodist Parsonage in Bedford. Mildred and Walter lived on the same farm all of their lives. During these years they raised five children, Robert, Doris, Clarice, Edwin and William. She was a wonderful seamstress who enjoyed needlework and crafts until her eyesight failed and she had to give them up. She made many, many quilts for her family. Mildred was a wonderful cook, making the best strawberry shortcake ever! Mildred's family was most important to her and she never thought of her in-laws as anything but family. She enjoyed traveling over the years, spending many winters in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1975 she moved to Bedford from the farm after Walter's death. She continue living alone until she was ninety-nine years old when she moved to the Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center. She was active in the 4-H Club as a committee-woman and leader for thirteen years. Mildred has been a devoted member of the United Methodist Church in Bedford for over eight-give years and was the oldest charter member. Se was one of the founders of the Taylor County Historical Society. Left to cherish Mildred's memory are her five children, Robert Osburn and friend of Bedford, Doris John and husband, James of Clinton, Clarice Meredith of Bedford, Edwin Osburn and wife, Edith of Albuquerque and William Osburn and Mary of Plattsburgh, New York; fourteen grandchildren; nineteen great grandchildren and eight great, great grandchildren. Preceding Mildred in death are her parents, Rawley and Eliza; her husband, Walter in 1975; a brother, Wilfred in 1976; a son-in-law, Howard Meredith; and daughter-in-law, Darlene Osburn.

Mildred Pollert Osburn

submitted by: LINDA KESTNER <lfkestner3@msn.com>

From The Bedford Times-Press, Wednesday, January 9, 2002:

Mildred Osburn of Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center spent Sunday Dec. 23, in the home of her daughter, Clarice Meredith. Others present were James and Doris John, Clinton, IA; Todd and Claudia Hebing and Adam, Oakland; Melvin and Linda Miers, Aaron, Clarinda; Steve Meredith, Omaha, NE; Janet and Garry Gsell, Terry Norfolk, NE; Randy and Darla Morland, Drew and Dustin, Sydney; Dick and Sandy Meredith, Jason and Keri and Bob Osburn, Bedford, Amy and Mark Kard, Kalee, Konner, Clarinda; and Angie Miers and friend, Des Moines. Saturday the family celebrated Mildred's 100th birthday. Nine members of the family came from Albuquerque, NM, to help her celebrate along with local family members.

From The Bedford Times-Press, Wednesday, January 23, 2002:

Mildred Osburn celebrates 100th Birthday

Mildred Osburn celebrated her 100th birthday on January 19. Celebrations were held on December 29 and January 19.

Mildred lived in her home until August of 2001 when she moved to Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center.

She has called Bedford home since she was 12 years old and knows a wealth of history. Ask her who owned the blacksmith shop where Mike's Radiator Shop is now or what business was located where Bedford Building Supply is and Mildred knows. Local historians often come to Mildred to fill in the blanks of Bedford's history.

Mildred said everyone used to come to town on Saturday night. "Saturday night was a big night," said Mildred. "Television ruined that."

She has seen a lot in her lifetime, two world wars, depression, man on the moon, inventions of cars, electricity, telephone, and now the computer age.

Mildred said the depression made the biggest impact on her. "The depression was hard. I wondered how we lived through it."

Mildred graduated from Bedford in 1919 and was a school teacher in 1920 and 1921 at the Platteville and Nash Country Schools. Her teaching career ended when she married.

Mildred and her husband, Walter, lived on a farm southeast of Bedford and raised five children, Bob and Clarice of Bedford; Ed of Albuquerque, N.M.; Bill, New York; and Doris of Clinton, Iowa. Farm life kept her busy with raising and selling chickens, making butter, and raising a family.

"We worked hard then, but we didn't think about it," recalls Mildred.

Mildred said the one thing she always wanted to do was drive. "I wanted to, but no one wanted to teach me," said Mildred.

Mildred has enjoyed making quilts for all her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Failing eyesight does not allow her to do that anymore.

She is the oldest living charter member of the Bedford Methodist Church and the oldest living Bedford graduate.

Belated birthday wishes may be sent to Mildred at Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center.

The Bedford Times-Press
Wednesday, November 20, 2002

MILDRED OSBURN

Funeral services for Mildred Osburn, age 100 of Bedford, who died Wednesday, November 13, 2002, were held Saturday, November 16, 2002, at 11 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home with Pastor Ted DeHass officiating. Interment was held at the Fairview Cemetery in Bedford. Memorials can be directed to the Taylor County Historical Society.

Mildred Osburn was born January 19, 2002 in Tingley, Iowa, the daughter of Rawley Pollock and Eliza Thorla Pollock. Mildred had one brother, Wilfred. Mildred grew up in the Tingley area, later moving to Bedford where she attended Bedford High School, graduating in 1919. She taught school for one year in Platteville, moving with her family for a short time to Colorado. When she returned to Bedford she taught for one year in Sharpsburg. She was united in marriage to Walter Osburn on September 1, 1921 at the United Methodist Parsonage in Bedford.

Mildred and Walter lived on the same farm all of their lives. During these years they raised five children, Robert, Doris, Clarice, Edwin and William. She was a wonderful seamstress who enjoyed needlework and crafts until her eyesight failed and she had to give them up. She made many, many quilts for her family. Mildred was a wonderful cook, making the best strawberry shortcake ever! Mildred's family was most important to her and she never thought of her in-laws as anything but family. She enjoyed traveling over the years, spending many winters in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1975 she moved to Bedford from the farm after Walter's death. She continue living alone until she was ninety-nine years old when she moved to the Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center. She was active in the 4-H Club as a committee-woman and leader for thirteen years. Mildred has been a devoted member of the United Methodist Church in Bedford for over eight-give years and was the oldest charter member. Se was one of the founders of the Taylor County Historical Society.

Left to cherish Mildred's memory are her five children, Robert Osburn and friend of Bedford, Doris John and husband, James of Clinton, Clarice Meredith of Bedford, Edwin Osburn and wife, Edith of Albuquerque and William Osburn and Mary of Plattsburgh, New York; fourteen grandchildren; nineteen great grandchildren and eight great, great grandchildren.

Preceding Mildred in death are her parents, Rawley and Eliza; her husband, Walter in 1975; a brother, Wilfred in 1976; a son-in-law, Howard Meredith; and daughter-in-law, Darlene Osburn.