Judith Osborn

Judith M. Osborn

Age 85, of Lakeland, passed away May 26, 2022

Judy was born January 2, 1937 in Oak Park, IL to Lilyan and Charles Stika.  She was joined soon by a sister, Pat Newton of Westmont, IL, and a brother, Chuck Stika of Prospect Heights, IL.  The family moved many times between Illinois and Wisconsin giving Judy the opportunity to attend 9 different grade and high schools.  She graduated from Downer’s Grove High School in IL in 1954 where she had been editor of the high school newspaper for 2 years.  She attended Ripon College in Ripon, WI for one year and then graduated from Lyons Township Jr. College in LaGrange, IL in 1956.

Judy met her husband, Ozzie through a mutual friend in 1956, married in 1957. They bought their first house in Downers Grove, IL.  Their first daughter, Debbie Jo, was born in 1958 and the second, BethAnne in 1960.

While living in Downers Grove, Judy was active in the American Legion Auxiliary, school, church, Brownies and Girl Scouts.  The minute BethAnne hit first grade, she got a job at a camping trailer dealer handling all the closings, inventory, wrote ads and the company newsletter.  When the camping trailer dealer closed she got the best job of her life working for the Downers Grove Reporter creating all their display ads.

In 1970 Ozzie was transferred by the Burlington Northern Railroad and the family moved to St. Paul.  There, Judy worked for the Ramsey County Historical Society as administrative assistant to the Gibbs Farm Museum Manager and RCHS’s Executive Director.  She eventually set up gift shops at the museum, Landmark Center and Bandana Square.  From 1986 to 1992, she and Ozzie owned and ran a country gift store in Bandana Square and in Woodbury.

In 1986 Ozzie and Judy moved to Afton and then to Lakeland in 2001.  She enjoyed volunteer work with the church and Afton Historical Society, gardening, reading, sewing, scrapbooking, knitting and quilting.

But most of all, she enjoyed being Ozzie’s wife for almost 52 years and  Grandma to Garren and Emmy and Great-grandma to Oslo and Elliott.

Memorial service Thursday, June 2, 2022, 11:00 A.M. at BRADSHAW CELEBRATION OF LIFE CENTER, 2800 Curve Crest Boulevard, Stillwater with a visitation one hour prior to the service.  Luncheon will follow the service. Private interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association.