2 days Ago
The Osmond family is grieving the loss of one of their own. Wayne Osmond , the brother of Marie Osmond and Donny Osmond and former member of their family’s singing groups The Osmond Brothers and The Osmonds , died on New Year’s Day after suffering a stroke, according to his family. He was 73.
“My dear brother Wayne passed away peacefully last night from a stroke,” Donny wrote in a Jan. 2 Instagram post alongside a black and white throwback picture of the musician. “I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to visit him in the hospital before he passed.
” The 67-year-old added, “Wayne brought so much light, laughter, and love to everyone who knew him, especially me. He was the ultimate optimist and was loved by everyone.” Donny—who, along with Wayne, joined most of the family’s nine children in following their parents’ music careers, eventually earning The Osmonds a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame —also shared his gratitude on behalf of the Osmond kids.
“I’m sure I speak on behalf of every one of us siblings when I state that we were fortunate to have Wayne as a brother,” he continued, later adding, “I love you, Wayne.” Wayne’s younger brother Merrill Osmond , 71, also shared his grief in a Jan. 2 post to Facebook , noting that he will “miss him tremendously.
” “I’ve never known a man that had more humility,” he wrote. “A man with absolute [sic] no guile. An individual that was quick to forgive and had the ability to show unconditional love to everyone he ever met.
” Another of Wayne’s brothers, Jay Osmond , 69, called him a “true legend” as he expressed how “deeply saddened” he is over the loss. “It is said that where there is great love there is great grief as we part during our earthly journey,” Jay shared in a Jan. 2 Facebook post.
“Throughout my life I have always felt most connected to Wayne out of all of my siblings. He was my roommate and my confidant over the decades.” During his life, Wayne married Kathlyn White Osmond in 1974 and the pair had five children together, according to The Associated Press .
He also continued to perform music with his siblings until he began to suffer health issues, including a massive stroke in 2012 that made him lose most of his hearing, per Deseret News . “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he told the outlet in 2018. “And you know, being able to hear is not all that it’s cracked up to be, it really isn’t.
My favorite thing now is to take care of my yard. I turn my hearing aids off, deaf as a doorknob, tune everything out, it’s really joyful.”.
