Donald Albert "Pacca" Osness Sr's Obituary
Donald was born on October 15, 1933, in Bradford, Pennsylvania to Agnes Arminda Van Luvender and William Chester Osness who both preceded him in death. He was the youngest boy out of 10 children, having only one sister just younger than him. His father passed away in 1944, soon after his mother moved the family out to Salt Lake City, Utah when Donald was 13 years old.
He will be reunited in heaven with his children, Larry Osness and Nicia Osness
LaPaine, and his siblings Roger, Martha, Chic, Agnes, Flo, Ruth, Marvin, Lillian, and Rowena.
During his very full life he was known by many names, Son, Husband, Dad, Al, Uncle Al, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, but the name that his granddaughter Shayla Bailey gave him and meant the most was Pacca.
Early in life he married Shirley Gunderson and had his first five children four of whom he is survived by: Robert “Bob” (Angie) Osness, Mary (Jerry) Duke, Donald (Danylle) Osness, Donna (Wes) Brown.
He later married his eternal companion Vicky Osness April 25th, 1970, and has four surviving children from that marriage: Gerod (Jennie) Osness, Zachary (Trudy) Osness, Keirstin Osness, and Nicholas (Heather) Osness.
He is also survived by 28 Grandchildren and 22 Great Grandchildren.
Donald served his country during the Korean war where he was stationed in Germany. He was in the Military from June 6, 1953, to April 25, 1955. He then went into construction. He would tell you it was hard work but satisfying. This is the primary way he earned his living until about 1987 when he was hit by a car and had to be medically retired. He then continued working part-time for the South Jordan Canal with his best friend Jay Wiley until 2013 when he retired at the young age of 80.
What he loved the most in life was his family and his Savior but aside from that he loved the cabin that he helped Jay build in the Uintah Mountains. He loved to tell a good story about building the cabin and the continued improvements that they made. He had many hunting and fishing stories from all the time he spent there. Even as recently as September this year, he went on a trip to the cabin with his son Bob and told us that he enjoyed being out in nature while Bob fished. Oh, and, they had the pleasure of eating a “$70 dollar trout”.
One of his favorite past times in retirement was meeting the guys at the “Coffee shop”, which was the local Burger King for Pero and coffee. Until about 4 weeks ago he was fortunate enough to be able to drive himself down to the shop to meet his other 90+ year old buddies and shoot the breeze for a little while several times a week.
Most people would categorize Pacca as a hard working good guy with lots of character. He served others in many ways including being a school taxi, finding that one thing someone needed, like a tool or a camping item. He was always willing to lend a helping hand; he just loved to serve others.
He loved the gospel, the Savior, serving in his callings and he had a special talent for home teaching and ministering. When he went to the temple initially his wife said, “he could have lived there”. Instead, over the last 50 years he attended weekly.
He did have a few flaws, he would be the first to admit it. He was always good for a humorous (sometimes crass) joke, and he had to fight going to the DI daily, he would tell the kids “It was the car he had to fight turning to go to the DI”.
He was a wonderful man that loved wholeheartedly, was always welcoming to all of the family he found along the way. Most of all loved all of his children and grandchildren.
Thank you all for remembering him and loving him with us.
Funeral services will be held Monday December 15, 2025 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Building 8059 West 2700 South Magna, UT 84044
The Viewing will be from 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Funeral services 12:00 pm-1pm
Interment will be at Valley View Cemetery 4335 West 4100 South West Valley City, UT
84120 at 1:30pm
Please send flowers to the church one hour prior to the service to ensure freshness.
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