Melvin Osburn | 89 | Jerseyville

Melvin Osburn, 89, of Jerseyville, passed away Feb. 11, 2025 at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, IL.
He was born July 24, 1935 in St. Louis, MO the son of the late Delilah Osburn.
He is survived by four daughters, Roberta (Bobbie) Crouch Randy of Highland, IL.; Peggy Riley of Arkansas; Debbie (Winnie) Dale of Alton; and Karen Osburn of Jerseyville. Two sons, Scott Osburn of Arizona; Allan Osburn of Auburn, IL; seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; and his significant other, Dorothy Waters of Jerseyville.
Besides his mother, he was preceded in death by a son Kenneth and a very special cousin, Dorothy (Cope) Davenport.
He was a man of many trades. He started out working for farmers, as he grew older he got into construction, over the road trucker, and became self employed owning his own lawn care and firewood business that he truly loved. He enjoyed the outside world. His last employment ended in 2021 at Eckerts Orchard in Grafton.
Melvin was a strong patient advocate for Lymphedema, a rare disease effecting different areas of the body, his was in his legs. He made several trips to Washington DC and multiple other states to get the bill passed for patients to be compensated for necessary garments and etc. The bill passed Dececember 2022 and went into effect February 2024. He held two fundraisers, first by walking from the Piasa Bird in Alton to Grafton in three days, a total of twenty-six miles, the second fundraiser was at Glazebrook park in Godfrey, he received a generous amount that he donated to the Lymphedema Act in his name. He attended two Lymphedema group meetings and held his own at Big Boys Dounut Shop in Jerseyville. He was in the process of helping get custom fit shoes passed through Medicare for Lymphedema patients. He was in two Jersey County parades with two of this daughters to get the word out about Lymphedema. He collected cans to assist himself with funds to promote his many endeavors for the Lymphedema work he accomplished. He was known for riding his bicycle through town, always ending at his favorite hang out, the donut shop. Sometime a few rides out on the country roads getting the exercise he knew that was so beneficial always wearing his vest promoting Lymphedema. He pedaled when he could and used the electric to assist when needed. He spent many, many good days at the Donut Shop visiting his friends. A quote from Mel, “My home away from home.”
He donated his body to St Louis University Hospital for research to be able to help someone else one last time. A Celebration of Life was held Feb. 23, 2025 at Calvary Baptist Church, Alton, IL. Additional information can be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com.