Mary Lou Osner entered the world on September 1st, 1935, the youngest of twelve children born to August and Anna Detmer (Rohling). From the very beginning, she was surrounded by a full, lively family, where siblings were playmates, teachers, and lifelong companions.

She attended Willowdale Grade School, a place that became the backdrop for many of the memories she cherished. It was there that she began forming the values that would define her life: kindness, loyalty, and a deep appreciation for the people around her. After grade school, she babysat and helped her siblings, showing early on her nurturing spirit and sense of responsibility.

On December 1st, 1956 she married Mark Osner. Mark and Mary Lou began their married life near Murdock, Ks. After a couple of years at Murdock they decided it was time to start a new adventure and purchase a farm from the Rohling aunts and uncles who had the farm north of Cunningham. Mark passed away Oct. 22, 2006. Survivors include children, Bill and wife Denise, Della Hampton and husband Von, Jason Osner and wife Megan; brother Leonard; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 4 step-great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by son Leonard; and brothers Theodore, Leonard, Martin, Andy, Leo, John and Lawrence; sisters Agnes Urban, Christine Miller, Rita Goertz and Isadore Fischer.

The farm at Cunningham is where they started a family and raised 4 children, Leonard, Bill, Della, and Jason. Besides raising children, they raised cattle, hogs, and sheep and also began a dairy. Along with the livestock, Mary Lou especially enjoyed raising puppies where they raised rat terriers and other breeds. She would many times talk about taking trips to the various places where they sold them.

After Leonard, Bill, and Della had graduated, and Jason started school, Mary Lou worked at USD 332 at the school cafeteria. Besides just working as a cook, she enlarged her network of friends with coworkers, teachers, staff, and students. Along with working at the school she also devoted her time to the Sacred Heart CCD program as the 2nd grade teacher for several years. She also encouraged others to join the Catholic faith.

Mary Lou also enjoyed gardening, raising flowers, fishing, but her true passion was music. Gifted with a natural ear, she could play the piano beautifully without needing sheet music. Some of her happiest moments were spent making music with her brother Lonnie; together, they would fill the room with classic country and gospel tunes, often drawing a crowd of friends and family who loved to listen. Mary Lou was also skilled on the accordion—affectionately known by some as the “squeeze box.” In her later years at Parkwood, she brought joy to fellow residents by playing the piano for them, her face lighting up with the biggest smile after each song.

Mary Lou also enjoyed spending time with her 13 grandchildren. Grandma and Grandpa’s house was filled with many memories from always having popcorn, ice cream, candy and cookies to spending hours in the basement playing games. Holidays were always filled with everyone gathering for dinner and more food than you could eat, followed by card games and basketball outside on the court. After that you were expected to eat again!

Although Mary Lou didn’t personally know Mark Zuckerberg, she inspired his idea of Facebook. There were countless times of when you would walk into the house and she would be on the phone with friends socializing about current events. She would typically end that conversation with, “Well I need to let you go someone is at the door.” She would then proceed to tell us how she just couldn’t get off the phone!!!

Over the last few weeks our family has been brought together spending time as she rested. We have been able to look at photo albums and recall many memories of her numerous jokes and stories. The last several days she continued to rest and died peacefully on December 28th, The Feast of the Holy Family. In the months and weeks prior to all of this, in her times of distress she would call out, please help us all Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Family was the center of her life from the beginning of one of 12 kids, she was blessed with 69 nieces and nephews, and along with raising 4 children, who blessed her with 13 grandchildren, and 15 great grandchildren, and 4 step great grandchildren. This doesn’t include the countless friends who were like family. May it inspire all of us to make family and friends be the center of all of our lives.

Parish rosary will be 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 2, 2025 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cunningham, Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 3, 2025 also at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cunningham. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Church Cemetery.

Memorials may be made with the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 401 E. First St., Cunningham, KS 67035 or to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Pratt, 332 N. Oak St., Pratt KS 67124. A memorial may also be mailed to Livingston Funeral Home, 1830 N. Main, Kingman KS 67068.