Vicki Arlene Morrison Osenbaugh, 76, of Pulaski, Iowa, passed away peacefully with family by her side on December 2, 2023, at Landmark Hospital in Columbia, MO, after battling to regain her breath following surgery in September.
She was born on May 22, 1947, in Chariton, Iowa, the only child of Ralph (a barber) and Darlene (a teacher) Morrison. Believe it or not, young Vicki was extremely shy, a trait she outgrew later in life as she loved to chat with family, friends, and even strangers, and was perhaps known best for her gift of gab – and a close second for her cat naps! As she enters the pearly gates, her family endearingly imagines her standing straight and tall in her new heavenly body, breathing deeply, and striking up a friendly conversation with the angels standing guard as they attempt to keep the line moving along.
Before her junior year in high school, Vicki and her parents moved from Chariton to nearby Russell, Iowa, where she met her high school sweetheart, Roger Osenbaugh. Roger and Vicki graduated from Russell High School in 1965 and were married at the Russell United Methodist Church in 1969. They graduated from Iowa State University, Vicki in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Roger in 1972 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. They moved to Monona, Iowa, to begin their careers and lived there until 1976, when they moved to Pulaski, where they lovingly raised four children and have lived since.
Vicki is survived by her husband of 54 years, Roger Osenbaugh; daughter Jill (James) Carothers and their children, Charlie (14), Eli (13), and Bo (7) of Hendersonville, TN; son Keith (Dawn) Osenbaugh and their children Max (10), Chason (8), Harvey (6), Willie (2), and Emerald (9 months) of Danville, AL; son Raymond (Theresa) Osenbaugh and their children Adelaide (12) and Elliott (8) of Grain Valley, MO; and son Alex (Natalie) Osenbaugh of Oskaloosa, IA. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Larry Parks of Independence, MO; nephew Dan (Carolyn) Parks of Palm Bay, FL; niece Elizabeth (Andy) Holloway and their children Nathan and Sarah of Independence, MO.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws, Raymond and Florence Osenbaugh, and her sister-in-law, Mary Parks.
Vicki taught special education at Fox Valley Schools from 1976 to 1981 and Davis County Schools from 1982 to 2006, when she retired. As a teacher, she truly loved and wanted the best for her students, doing all she could to advocate for and help each one succeed. Many of her past students would call her throughout the years to update her on their accomplishments, joys, and trials, to which she responded with genuine interest, support, and continued encouragement to "make good decisions," a phrase her children and grandchildren also heard from her often.
Her husband and children lovingly and jokingly referred to her as "Tricky Vicki" or "Mombo" and referenced her Pollyanna-like-attitude, as she was almost always positive and rarely complained. However, her Irish temper would occasionally make a rare appearance if needed. Despite having been diagnosed with progressive scoliosis at the age of 13 (which by the time of her death was one of the most severe and debilitating cases of scoliosis measured at 120 degrees spine curvature, causing a significantly reduced lung capacity), she never perceived herself as handicapped. She didn't shy away from living life fully and looked for the silver lining in most situations.
She was a strict enforcer of moral code with her children (at least related to the things she knew about!), striving to ensure they finished what they started and made amends when they made mistakes. In proper teacher form, her children knew there were consequences for their actions, and her son Keith (who messed up way more than the others) knew all too well the consequences of her famous "Restitution Essays." All joking aside, she was a wonderful mother and ended most conversations and letters to her children, grandchildren, and former students with a reminder that "I'm praying for you to be safe, healthy, and filled with joy." She truly believed her prayers mattered, and they did.
In earlier years, Vicki enjoyed playing the piano and was a Pulaski Mother's Club member. She and Roger also loved cheering the kids and their friends on in cross country, football, basketball, wrestling, track, and marching band. During retirement, she traveled with Roger to visit their kids and grandkids, to whom she was “Grandma O,” and they spent several weeks each year in Fairfield Bay, AR. She enjoyed having lunch with her retired teacher friends, helping with activities at church, attending the Monday evening women's bible study, crocheting, planning and planting her flower bed (notice we did not say weeding said flower bed), and she loved watching old westerns on TV, especially anything with Roy Rogers or John Wayne.
Vicki was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church until recently when she began attending the newly formed Christ Community Church in Bloomfield. She was active throughout the years in congregations in Chariton, Russell, Pulaski, and Bloomfield and deeply treasured her church friendships and relationship with God.
Vicki requested cremation and that her ashes someday be combined with Roger's and scattered across the pasture south of their house in Pulaski. She would often stand at the kitchen sink overlooking the pasture, gratefully and admiringly watching Roger mow or hit golf balls into the field, puttering, praying, maybe doing a few dishes, thinking up ways to get her daughter's goat, and commenting on the weather, the beautiful sky, and those pesky groundhogs!
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Wagler Funeral Home in Bloomfield with Pastor Jacob Sandholm officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm on Friday, December 15, with family present to greet friends from 5-7:00 pm at Wagler Funeral Home. Please feel free to wear your favorite Christmas sweatshirt in Vicki's honor. Instead of flowers, please make donations to the Pulaski Corn Show, the Pulaski Fire Department, or Christ Community Church.
Some trails are happy ones,
Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you.
Happy trails to you,
Until we meet again.
Happy trails to you,
Keep smiling until then.
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