Stephen Wayne Osborn

Stephen “Steve” Wayne Osborn passed away peacefully in his home in Kenner, Louisiana on March 19, 2026, at the age of 72.

Steve was a native of South Bend, Indiana and was proud to be a “Hoosier.”  In his early life, he loved spending time outdoors, playing and watching sports, spending time at his grandparents’ farm in New Carlisle, Indiana, and being with his family and friends.  Steve was known for being a caring and protective brother to his 3 sisters.  They always knew that no matter what, their brother would be there for them.  Steve was also known for being a fierce and loyal friend.  When he made a friend, they were his friend for life.  One of Steve’s proudest achievements as a young adult was working at Notre Dame University.  He loved Notre Dame football and remembered his time working in the kitchens there fondly.  While Steve loved his hometown, he knew that he had to seek a career that was outside of South Bend.  As it came time for Steve to choose a career, he was intrigued by the oil and gas industry and the opportunities it offered.  He chose to move to the bayous of South Louisiana and build his life there.  Steve spent more than 30 years as a wench operator on anchor boats and set up residence in Bayou Vista, Louisiana before later moving to Metairie, Louisiana then Kenner, Louisiana, where lived out his days.  His time as a wench operator was grueling but rewarding.  He worked 24-hour call shifts throughout his career and was known for his strong work ethic and desire to provide for his two children, Nicholas “Nick” Osborn and Amanda “Mandy” Osborn-Kurall.  When he wasn’t working, he dedicated his time to enjoying life and caring for his children.  He loved hosting his family for holidays, having fish fries using the fish he caught offshore, and taking care of his neighbors and friends whenever they needed him.

Steve loved listening to music, attending music festivals, being the life of any party, and was an avid sports spectator.  He especially loved the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and the New Orleans Saints.  Although, it should be noted that if given a choice between the Bears and the Saints as his favorite football team, he would always choose the Bears.  Though he loved just about any sport he came across, like his grandfather before him, he was most dedicated to being a Cubs fan.  He frequently took his children home during their childhood summers and made it a point to attend games at Wrigley field whenever he was home.  He also never missed a Cubs game on television if it could be helped and made it a point to schedule his obligations around when the Cubs played.  He kept detailed records of the Cubs’ wins and losses and followed the careers of many Cubs players throughout his life.  He was overjoyed to see them win the World Series in 2016, after more than a century since their last World Series win.

Steve was also an avid history buff and enjoyed reading historical fiction, historical nonfiction, and watching documentaries about important historical events.  He especially loved learning about The Civil War and World War II.  Steve also enjoyed movies.  He loved going to the movie theater to watch new movies and, when his children were young, he was known for having a movie library.  His home was often more stocked with movies than the local movie rental store and he enjoyed recording and cataloging every movie he’d ever seen.  Steve also loved golf and his children fondly remember having the honor of taking turns being his caddy and getting to drive the golf cart.  While he frequently admitted to not being a great golfer, specifically that he “spent more time in the woods than on the green,” it never stopped him from playing.  Steve lived a full life and will always be remembered fondly by his surviving family and friends.

Steve is survived by his children, Nick and Mandy (João“John”), his grandchildren, Adelaide “Addy”, Joseph, Chase, and Lane, his sisters, Olivia (Albert “Al”), Constance “Connie”, and Denise “Nisey” (William “Billy”), his nieces and nephews, Louis, Marianna, Veronica, and Anthony, as well as a large extended family.

Steve was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Osborn, and his mother, Patricia Gower.

Steve’s wish was to be cremated and have his ashes spread at his favorite childhood place on the St. Joe River in South Bend.  A Celebration of Life will be held at his favorite spot on the river on May 20, 2026, which would have been his 73rd birthday.  The ceremony will begin at 7:30pm.  His children invite anyone who would like to attend to meet them on the St. Joseph River Trail, which is on the west side of the St. Joseph River, southeast of Pinhook Park, where the river bends around the island.  Coordinates are 41.71149° N, 86.26942° W. His children also encourage anyone attending to wear Chicago Cubs gear to celebrate his life as he hated to dress up and would love everyone to support his favorite team.  A reception will follow, with the location to be announced.

Arrangements are entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home of Covington, La.

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