The eight sons of Alan Osmond gathered in Salt Lake City on Friday to pay tribute to their father following his death on April 20 at age 76. As reported by Ksl, the brothers shared lessons regarding faith and family ahead of a scheduled funeral service at the Orem Suncrest Stake Center.
Alex, Jon, Scott, David, Doug, Nathan, Mike, and Tyler reminisced about their father’s positive outlook despite his nearly 40-year battle with multiple sclerosis. The family confirmed that the funeral will include a performance of the song “I May Never Pass This Way Again.”
David Osmond highlighted his father’s spiritual conviction as the primary influence on his life and actions.
“He was a mountain of a man,” said David Osmond, “who had a firm foundation of faith and that drove him in everything that he did.”
Scott Osmond noted that this faith was something his father shared frequently with everyone he encountered, including through large email threads.
“I have a son serving a mission right now, and in his emails (Dad) would always reply-all, and I kept telling my father, ‘Hey, you’re replying to 250 people on this email thread.’ And he would always be, ‘Oh, OK,’ and he kept doing it!” recalled Scott Osmond.
The brothers also reflected on the relationship between their parents and the example set by their father’s devotion to his wife.
“The other thing I do want to point out is my dad’s love for my mom. He always gave her all the credit,” David Osmond said. “And so he taught us what it meant to love your wife.”
Nathan Osmond spoke about a specific moment of reflection when he asked his father for advice he would give to his younger self.
“He said, ‘Son, if I could talk to my younger self, I would tell myself this: It’s not who you are but who you become that ultimately matters,” recalled Nathan Osmond.
Despite his professional success, which included gold records and meetings with world leaders, Alex Osmond emphasized his father’s internal strength during health struggles.
“When he thought he was alone and had every reason to complain and just be angry, I can’t think of an instance when I saw him not choose to be happy,” Alex Osmond said.
Even during his final days, the family observed that Alan Osmond maintained a sense of gratitude and comfort.
“Recently, he did have a pretty bad day. And at the end of the day, we tucked him in and (said), ‘Are you comfortable? Are you OK?’ And he just sat there and said, ‘This was a wonderful day!'” said Scott Osmond.
Nathan Osmond listed the various titles and nicknames his father earned throughout his career as a producer and performer.
“He’s got so many titles,” Nathan Osmond said. “‘Osmondo Bizarro,’ ‘Mr. Stadium of Fire,’ the Daily Herald called him a ‘force of nature.’ We call him ‘father.'”
The funeral service for Alan Osmond is set for Saturday, May 2, at 12 p.m. Following his service in the National Guard, he will be buried with military honors at the Spanish Fork Cemetery.