Erwin Osterbur

Erwin ‘Erv’ Osterbur, 92, moved on to his forever home on Monday (Oct. 9, 2023).

Erwin was born on May 10, 1931, to John Osterbur and Catherine (Huls) Osterbur in Royal. Erwin was the youngest of seven children. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Royal and graduated from Ogden High School, 1949.

He attended Wartburg College, 1950, before his plans changed and he joined the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955. He married Elsie (Doberneck) Osterbur on March 2, 1952, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gifford, and together they made several cross-country moves during the years he served in the Navy. Once they settled back home in Central Illinois, they raised three children, Kathy (Conrad) Mandsager (NH), Kristi (Joe) Lucariello (GA), and Kevin (Elaina) Osterbur (IL). He is a proud grandfather of eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren with one more expected in February. He has been blessed to be surrounded by his extended family, siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews.

Erwin completed his accounting degree at Illinois Commercial College and worked in the accounting and travel field his entire career. Erwin and his family lived in St. Joseph where he served on the St. Joseph-Ogden High School board and was one of the founding members of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. In 1977, Erwin and Elsie moved to Rantoul. He owned and operated Faucett Travel in Champaign and World Wide Travel Agency in Rantoul. In addition, he operated a very busy bus service on Chanute Air Force Base, as well as arranging travel for special events like the 1984 Rose Bowl. Over the years, the travel business gave Erwin and Elsie the opportunity to lead numerous groups overseas. His favorite destination was Ostfreisland, in northern Germany, the land of his heritage. He was passionate about genealogy. Proud to be a veteran, Erwin enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in 2015.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie; two sisters, Bertha and Anna (Busboom); four brothers, Henry, Martin, Herbert and Robert; and grandson, Thaddeus Mandsager.

A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, at American Lutheran Church, 500 Church Dr, Rantoul.  Rev. Scott Smith will officiate. The family will be greeting friends for one hour prior to the service at American Lutheran Church. His ashes will be inurned at St. John’s Cemetery, Royal, where he will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife.

Lux Memorial Chapel, Rantoul, is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to ChildVoice ( www.childvoice.org/donate ) or Holly’s House of Hope, ( www.hollyshouseofhope.org ), Highland IL