Funeral services for Larry Gene Osina were held on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, from St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ammannsville. Rosary was held at the church on Friday, Dec. 29. Burial was in St. John the Baptist cemetery. Larry died on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 at his home after a lengthy illness.
Pallbearers were Art Caldwell, Tommy Muras, David Sassin, Donald Kelly Jr., Darren Kunz and Clarence Hartensteiner. Honorary pallbearers were Diane Roeder, Tom Losier and John Dodson. Officiating at the services was Fr. Luke Prihoda, main celebrant. Concelebrating were Fr. Jasper Liggio, Msgr. John Peters and Msgr. Tim Kosler.
Larry married Carolyn Muras on July 27, 1974. The couple settled in Ammannsville until 1984, and then moved to Schulenburg to be closer to his business. They were blessed with four children.
Survivors include his wife and children, David Osina and wife Carol of Ammannsville, Michael Osina and wife Leigh Anne of Pearland, Gina Zbranek and husband Brian of Ammannsville, and Carly Divin and husband Matthew of Weimar. Also surviving are one brother, Frankie Osina of Ammannsville; two sisters, Patricia Stolarski and husband Ralph of Sugar Land, and Betty Stolarski of Schulenburg. Ten grandchildren also survive: Kristen and Natalie Osina; Austin, Benjamin and Tyler Osina; Alyssa, Tenley and Kasen Zbranek; and Emileigh and Sullivan Divin.
Born in El Campo on Feb. 7, 1948, he was the son of Frank and Annie (Bartosh) Osina. He attended Ammannsville Elementary, Dubina Elementary and St. Rose School. He graduated from Bishop Forest High School in 1966. He attended Wharton County Junior College for two years. He was drafted to the U.S. Army on March 4, 1969 and served in Vietnam from July 28, 1969 to July 27, 1970. He served with the 1st Cavalry, Air Mobile. He received three Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Air Medal Vietnam Service Medal and Combat Infantry Badge along with other medals.
He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Schulenburg American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Larry was a charter member of the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 870 and was instrumental in the formation of the organization. He served on the scholarship committee for many years. His love for Catholic education led him to become a charter member of Friends for Catholic Education, promoting Catholic education for high school students at Sacred Heart High School in Hallettsville.
Those who served in Vietnam share with all other war veterans an awful knowledge and understanding of the true cost of war, for they are all individuals who survived an experience of fright and terror which has no equal, an experience which forever changed and shaped each veteran’s life. Veterans of Vietnam have borne an additional burden, for that conflict was not neatly resolved and many questions remain unanswered. In years gone by, many men and women, responding to the call of this nation, answered the summons given and left family and familiar surroundings, people and places loved, to serve in a far-off land, returning home to uncertain reception.
His passion for fixing farm tractors led him to join Eugene Kossa at Gene’s Repair Shop in Schulenburg. In 1971, he took over the business. Because of his great knowledge and determination to fix anything, his business grew quickly with service calls ranging up to a 100-mile radius. He was able to work alongside his brother and pass along his love for tractors to his son who also worked with him. In June 2015, he retired and closed Gene’s Repair Shop to spend more time with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed restoring old houses with his wife and children. However, his pride and joy was his restored 1955 Buick in which he loved to take his wife and grandchildren on a Sunday afternoon drive. He was an honest businessman. He was a kind and loving father and grandfather. He had a heart of gold and never met a stranger. He will be missed by many!
LARRY GENE OSINA