SPRINGFIELD – Lewis B. "Lew" Osterbur, of Springfield, formerly of Onarga and Quincy, passed away at 1:10 a.m. Saturday (May 2, 2015) at Concordia Village in Springfield.
He was born July 17, 1925, in Champaign, to John and Anna (Behrens) Osterbur. His family moved to Onarga, where he graduated from high school in 1943. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he was trained as a pilot during World War II. Later, he was recalled to active service during the Korean War and served as a training pilot.
After attending Bradley University and the University of Illinois, Lew worked for Faultless Milling Co. He married Leah D. McQueen in Onarga on Dec. 22, 1946. He purchased the Onarga Grain Co., and operated it for many years. In 1969, he began working for I.H. French & Co. in Champaign. In 1970, he moved to Quincy and started Lewis B. Osterbur & Associates, a grain exporting and business real estate company. He and his wife moved to Concordia Village in Springfield in 2011.
Lew was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod all his life. He was a member of St. James Lutheran Church in Quincy and also Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Springfield. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed a longtime membership of Spring Creek Country Club in Onarga and later Spring Lake Country Club in Quincy. Along with his wife Leah, he performed in a number of productions at the Quincy Community Theater. He loved to play poker and gin rummy, and to dance to the music of Big Bands. He was a kind and fun-loving man and an eternal optimist. Everyone he met was a new friend, and he had a positive impact on everyone whose life he touched.
Lew leaves behind his wife Leah; his son, Randy (Ruth) of Sunrise Beach, Mo.; two daughters, Cindy (Duane) Stock of Taylorville and Pat (Hugh) Seelbach of Springfield; eight grandchildren, Tim (Shelly) Stock, Greg Stock, Alison Osterbur, Kara (Prakash) Jayabalan, Kyle Osterbur, Sheri (Matt) Stewart, Jill (Ryan) DeGeeter and Eric Seelbach; and two great-grandchildren, Anya Jayabalan and Jordan Stewart. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Marcia Jo; one brother; and six sisters.
Visitation and ceremony: The Osterbur family will receive friends in the chapel at Concordia Village, 4101 Iles Ave., Springfield, on Saturday, May 9, 2015, from 9:30 a.m. until time of services there at 11 a.m. Saturday. Pastor Chris Nilges, chaplain of Concordia Village, will officiate. A graveside service, with military honors, will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 10, in the Onarga Cemetery, Onarga.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, those who wish may direct memorial contributions in his name to Concordia Village, 4101 Iles Ave., Springfield, IL 62711; Our Savior's Lutheran Church and School, 2645 Old Jacksonville Road, Springfield, IL 62704 or to St. James Lutheran Church and School, 900 S. 17th St., Quincy, IL 62301.
Please visit the online "Life Remembered Story" atwww.bischfuneralhomewest.com where tributes and condolences may be left for the family.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bisch Funeral Home West (217-544-5424).
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