Norma Jean Osborne

Norma was born in the family farmhouse in Baraboo, Wisconsin, to the late Lawrence and Elsa Siebecker. She grew up on the farm, graduated from Baraboo High School in 1936, and attended Whitewater State Teachers College, Whitewater, Wisconsin, and Madison Business College, Madison, Wisconsin. She worked at Baraboo National Bank selling war bonds during World War II and administered trusts. She loved ballroom dancing and attended many USO big band dances in her youth. She met her future husband, the late Richard “Dick” Paul Osborne, on a blind date three days after he returned home from Europe while serving as Staff Sergeant in the 9th Armored Division of the US Army during WWII. Norma always said that she knew, after their first date, that “Dick” was the one. They were married on February 8, 1947, and lived in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, where Dick was the manager of the Kilbourn Farmers Cooperative Exchange. While there, their family started to grow with the birth of their first daughter, Barbara Ann. From Wisconsin, Norma, Dick and their young daughter moved to Lubbock, Texas, where two more daughters, Susan Kay, and Paula Jean were born. From Lubbock, the family moved to Dallas and then to the Spring Branch area of Houston. After the death of her husband, Norma moved to the 1960 area of Houston and later to the Conservatory Senior Living complex, Spring, Texas.

Norma dearly loved her girls and said they kept her young. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family whether it was at home, taking road trips, or traveling to such far away places as Singapore, Great Britain, Spain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Thailand, and Pakistan.

She always wanted to be involved in anything her family did. Norma’s incredibly upbeat attitude toward life was an inspiration to all who knew her. She always found the silver lining. She will truly be missed, but we gloriously celebrate that she has gone home to be with our Heavenly Father. Norma was a member of Windwood Presbyterian Church.

Norma is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Paul Osborne; parents, Lawrence and Elsa Siebecker and sister, Margaret Helen Jahn.

Norma is survived by her three daughters, Barbara Osborne of Fullerton, California, Susan Starck of Houston, and Paula Roever Eppright of Austin; son-in-laws, Fred Starck and Fred Eppright; three grandsons Matthew Starck USAF, who is currently deployed to the middle east, and wife Christa, Travis Roever, and Drew Roever; two great grandchildren, Addison Mae Starck and Wyatt Paul Starck; former son-in-law, Robert Roever, and many long-time close friends.

The family would like to thank the staff at Grace Care Center Northpointe and Hospice with Grace for their kindness and loving care during her final days.

Visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX, at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, October 27, 2014 followed by a 12:30 p.m. service. Burial will follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.