Murray J. Osborn

Murray J. Osborn, 93, of Rock Island, died Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf.

A service to celebrate Murray's life will be held at 11 am on Monday at First Lutheran Church, Rock Island.  Visitation is 4 to 7 pm Sunday at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7 Ave., Rock Island.  Inurnment will be at the National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be presented by Moline American Legion Post 246.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church, Rock Island.

Murray J. Osborn was born on January 11, 1924 in Chenoa, Ill., one of seven sons born to Murray E. and Naomi S. Wagner Osborn.  He married Joyce E. Freed on Aug. 29, 1946 in Normal, Ill.  She died March 11, 2010.

Murray received his public school education in Chenoa.  He received  his Bachelor's degree in 1948 and Master's degree in Music Education in 1955, both from Illinois State University.  He began his long career in music education in Piper City, Ill., teaching there from 1948 to 1953.  Murray taught in Pontiac, Ill., from 1953 to 1957, moving to Rock Island in 1957 to become the choral director at Rock Island High School.  He retired from Rock Island High School in 1976.  After retiring from Rock Island, Murray was a part-time teacher and director of the Chapel Choir at Augustana College.  Throughout his teaching career, he taught private voice lessons to hundreds of students, and also taught at Black Hawk College from 1962 through the 1990s.  He served over 30 years as director of church choirs of various denominations, including First Baptist Church, of Moline, Memorial Christian Church, Rock Island, and First Lutheran Church, Moline.  Murray also served many years in Illinois and Iowa as an adjudicator for music contests.  His love of music was not limited to directing, as he also performed in various musical groups, including Nova Singers, Friends of Chamber Music and the Quad-City Music Guild.

Murray was a WW II veteran having served as an Aviation Cadet in the U.S. Navy.  He then served from 1945 to 1946 as a radio officer with the Merchant Marines on a troop ship bringing home troops at the end of the war.

Survivors include his children, Ann (Chuck) Austin, Rock Island, John (Wanda) Osborn, Iowa City, Mary Osborn, Moline and Paul Osborn (Aida Segura), Waukegan, Ill.; grandchildren, Julie (Paul) Hansen, John (Judi) Austin, Troy Osborn (fiancee, Brittany Metke), Hannah Osborn, Kayti Bouljon, Laura Bouljon, Benjamin Osborn and Lucia Osborn; and great-grandchildren, Ella and Zachary Hansen and Xavier and Benjamin Austin.  He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and brothers, Cecil, Warren, Carlos, Clifton, Frank and Jacque.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.      

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