John J. Osman, age 84, of Shawano passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at his home. John was born on May 28, 1942, in Borger, Texas to the late George and Helen (Whitewater) Osman. While in high school he ran track and was in the 1961 graduating class of Borger High School. John then attended college in Texas which was interrupted by the Vietnam War. He served his country proudly and honorably in the United States Army 173rd Airborne. John traveled extensively as a pipeline welder for many years for gas and oil pipelines. When the young bucks started nipping at his heals; he became an inspector for the pipelines. A phrase that he used often during his time on the pipeline when they were done for the day, “roll her up boys” meaning roll up the welding.

On November 23, 1993, he was united in marriage to Rebecca “Becci” Carpenter in Green Bay, Wisconsin. John was an intimidating man, but when you got to know him, he was a big softie. He loved small children and animals and always tipped servers generously at restaurants because he knew they worked hard and he knew what it was like to work hard for money. He was proud of his heritage in the Potawatomi and Cherokee Tribes. In his free time, John enjoyed mowing the lawn, polishing the car, putzing around the garage, going to local casinos and taking care of Becci, Sheba and Meowsir. John had a surprising skill of creating stained glass art.

John is survived by his wife of 32 years, Becci; daughter, Jennifer; grandchildren, Paisley, Skylar and Priscilla; sister, Carol Burgess; nieces, Whitney Burgess, Erin Turney and Megan Peplinski; nephews, Mark Burgess, Michael Burgess and Erik Colon; great nieces and great nephews, Sydni, Taylor, Peyton, Quinn, Madisyn, Hunter, Skylar and Kaden; and sister-in-law, Rachelle Christensen.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Helen and George Osman; brother George Max Osman; brother-in-law, Bernie Burgess; nephew, David Burgess; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Harry and Vivian Carpenter; brother-in-law, Orville Koenig; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Orieal and Gene Burcham and Donna Brueckner.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano with Richard Menning officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 12:30 pm until the time of service. Military Honors will be conducted by Shawano AMVETS following the service at the funeral home. Inurnment will be held at Lake Drive Cemetery at a later date.

A special thank you to Unity Hospice for the wonderful care given to John. Also, a bigger thank you to John from Becci for always taking care of her.