Albert Merle Osterman

1925 - 2016

Albert Merle
Osterman

February 26, 1925 -

April 23, 2016

It is with an abundance of love and gratitude that we say goodbye to our loving dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, and friend, Albert M. Osterman. It was a privilege and honor of great magnitude to have known and loved him. He was a man of noble character and we all highly respected and cherished him for his wisdom, integrity, sense of humor, and practical and prudent ways. To put it in the words of a dear friend, he was a "classic gentleman."

Dad lived his life simply and humbly. He had a round of family, friends and acquaintances that recognized the gem he was and so we loved to visit and be mentored by him. He loved his work, which included gunsmithing, machining, and gardening. The work of his hands was very important to him, and he did his work well. Many of us came near to learn from him, and he was always a willing teacher to all of us.

"Al" began his life in Hollywood, California, born to parents Fred and Verna Osterman, on February 26th, 1925. His family moved to San Jose when he was still a young boy. There his father owned a rose nursery, and he grew up working in that nursery, learning the trade of rose husbandry. When he grew into manhood, he joined the U.S. Army. Later in his young life Al married Kathleen Gray, and they gave birth to two sons, Dan and Tom.

While the boys were still young, the family moved to Eagle Point, Oregon, where Al worked in his gunsmithing shop. He built muzzle loading rifles and pistols, and enjoyed life in the country while doing the work he loved. While there, he built his own beautiful A-Frame home, which the family lived in for many years. Later on, Al moved to Springfield, and then Junction City, where he continued his gun work and machining business, with lots of gardening and working outdoors as well. He also played his violins and viola, loved classical music and feeding birds, and was an avid reader and had a keen interest in aviation and all things that fly. He highly valued his relationships with his family and friends, and will be greatly missed by each and every one of us.

Al is survived by his son, Tom, and his daughter-in-law, De Layne; his granddaughter, Amy, and her husband, Rami; his grandson, Jedidiah, and his wife, Rachel; and three great-grandchildren, Myra, Jadon, and Eve; his brother, Richard; and several nephews and a niece. His son, Dan, and sister, Ruth, preceded him in death.

We say goodbye to you, Al, but the goodbye is just for now, for one day we will all see you again. We know that you are Home at last, safe in the loving arms of Jesus, healthy and happy, and full of unspeakable joy. We love you, we honor you, and we cherish you, both now and forever. Until we see you again, know we love you, dear man, we love you.

*Personal notes: Thanks for being my Dad, my Grandpa, my brother, my uncle, and my friend!

Arrangements entrusted to Murphy-Musgrove Funeral Home. Please access the obituary and you are invited to sign the guestbook at musgroves.com.