Marian Osko

1922 ~ 2015

Marian Osko of Lethbridge, beloved husband of Lucyna Osko passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on 22 October 2015, one month after his 93rd birthday.

Marian was born in Podoblocie, Poland, the fourth of six children of his parents, Jozef and Katarzyna. Marian grew up helping his mother with her market garden business, in the absence of his father who had died in an accident when Marian was eight. The Nazi’s arrested Marian in occupied Poland in 1941 for refusing conscription into service of the German army. He was imprisoned in a number of concentration camps including Auschwitz and Dachau. After WWII, he found himself in a refugee camp in Germany, where he met his beloved wife Lucyna. They were married in 1946 and were blessed with their first son, Kazimierz, in 1947. The small family landed in the Turin area of southern Alberta in 1949 on a contract to provide sugar beet farm labour. Marian worked for a number of farmers in the Turin, Iron Springs, and Picture Butte areas until 1956, when he was able to buy his own farm in partnership with another family near Picture Butte. Marian loved farming, but had to retire due to health reasons in the mid-1970’s. He remained on the farm until 2000, when he and Lucyna moved to a newly constructed home in Lethbridge. Never afraid of hard work, he provided well for his family and could be relied upon to help any friend, relative or neighbour in need. Marian was a man of deep faith, trusting in our Lord through all trials until the end. He will be sorrowfully missed.

Marian is survived by his loving wife Lucyna, daughter Julia Palech (Don), son Terry Osko (Glennys), grandchildren Sherry Dieser (Lloyd), Brandy Osko, Alexandra Faucher (Bryan), Christina Palech, Erica Osko, Sarah Osko, and great granddaughter Grayson Dieser, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their families. He was predeceased by his parents Jozef and Katarzyna, brothers Stanislaw, Jan, Aleksander, and Kazimierz, sister Marianna, and son Kazimierz.

Vigil Rites (Prayers) will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 27th, 2015 at ST. BASIL’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 604 – 13th Street, North, Lethbridge, led by Alice Takacs.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am, Wednesday October 28th, 2015 at ST. BASIL’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 604 – 13th Street, North, Lethbridge, with Father Kevin Tumback, celebrant. Interment will follow in the Mount Calvary section of Mountain View Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society (317-10 St. S., Lethbridge, AB T1J 2M7) in lieu of flowers.