Joel Addison Osborne June 6, 1939 - December 17, 2021

Joel Addison Osborne passed away Friday, December 17, 2021, surrounded by the family he so deeply loved.

Joel was born in Asbury Park, NJ, June 6, 1939, to Dorothy Lazzo Osborne and Carroll Osborne. Joel had long curly hair that was cut at the chagrin of his mother by his aunt at a young age. Joel moved to Livermore, California, with his mother who later married Pete Nickolas, who became a huge part of Joel’s life as a loving and supportive father figure. Joel attended Livermore High School and found that he had a love and talent for drama and track. Joel attended Oakland Jr College where he earned an Associates Degree.

He continued his studies at the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse, graduating with a Bachelor of Theatre Arts Degree. During this time, Joel became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and while attending a church dance, he met the love of his life, Judy Menlove. Judy and Joel were married September 16, 1968, in the Salt Lake Temple. Within a few years, they became new parents with the birth of their first child, a son, Jody Joel Osborne; and later were blessed with a daughter, Roxane Osborne.

In between the birth of their two children, Joel and Judy moved to Provo, Utah, to be closer to family and so Joel could continue his education at Brigham Young University, where he received a Masters of Arts degree in Speech and Drama.

Joel and Judy ran a family-owned screen-printing business, where Joel used his artistic ability to hand cut every stencil before the advent of computer technology. He also mastered printing using pad presses, sublimation and pretty much any printing process you can think of. Joel could be found in his wood shop cutting out wood figures and all sorts of unique crafts that he would hand paint. Joel loved community theater and participated in hundreds of plays throughout his life. He also wrote a short children’s play titled “The Day the Music Died”, that is still used across the country to this day. Joel worked as a drama teacher at both Cottonwood High School and Pleasant Grove High School, where he was influential in the lives of many young students.

In addition to enlisting his entire family in his theatrical adventures, Joel also was very active in the lives of his children and grandchildren, attending nearly every event. Joel and Judy loved doing things with their family, like camping at Starvation Lake, planning parties, and playing every card or board game imaginable. Joel was always the life of the party and up to his passing days, he was quick with a joke.

Despite many health complications, Joel outlived his adoring wife, Judy Menlove Osborne, who passed in 2020. The days after Judy’s death were extremely hard for Joel, and we find peace knowing that he is reunited with his love.

Joel is survived by his two children: son, Jody Osborne (Wendy Osborne); and daughter, Roxanne Tidwell; as well as his sister, Carole Cole (Jim). He leaves behind seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, and many adoring nieces, nephews, loving family members, and friends.

A memorial service to honor Joel A. Osborne will be held Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. at the 22nd Ward LDS Church, 761 East 400 North, Spanish Fork, Utah 84660. Immediately following the service, a dinner will be served, where family and friends can mingle and reminisce the life of our beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather also known as “Great.”