Tom and Janie Osborne
Time period/Baraboo: Tom, 1935-2014; Janie, 1971 – present
Submitted by: Terri Schider
Lovingly remembered as the sweethearts of the Baraboo Theatre Guild, Tom and Janie Osborne embraced life in Baraboo and their life stories validate decades of generous service to their community. Tom grew up in the Mary Roundtree Park area where his neighborhood baseball team, the Bobcats, held its club meetings in his Second Avenue basement. Growing up, he adored Devil’s Lake and was employed at the Devil’s Lake Chateau. After graduating from Baraboo High School in 1952, Tom served two years active duty in the U.S. Army stationed in the Pacific where he met Jane Ilene Kulseth, a native of Seattle who was working as a teacher at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu. They were married in Hawaii in 1957 and after studying, working and starting a family in Madison and Southern California, in 1971 moved to Baraboo with their two daughters.
In addition to their unending devotion to family and careers, (Tom’s 40-year career as an insurance agent and Janie’s 27-year teaching career), Tom and Janie fully committed themselves to nurturing the families and neighborhoods of Baraboo through their volunteer activities in civic and church organizations. Between them, the Baraboo Jaycees, Toastmasters, Kiwanis, Country Club, Al. Ringling Friends, Senior Center, Girl Scouts, teen groups, Alpha Chi Omega, forensics teams, Koshawaga, and Trinity Episcopal Church enjoyed the benefits of their service and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
Tom was a 50-year member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Baraboo and Janie has ushered at the Al. Ringling Theatre for over 40 years and continues to hold the position of head usher and coordinator for the Al. Ringling Lively Arts Series. In retirement, the lure of Devil’s Lake never diminished, and Tom and Janie co-managed the Devil’s Lake concessions for seven years.
But for these devotees of Baraboo, it is perhaps Tom and Janie’s involvement with the Baraboo Theatre Guild that most defines this couple. They were a BTG power couple whose individual talents complemented each other perfectly and together they sparked a light in BTG which has provided live theater to Baraboo audiences for over 70 years. We are grateful for and acknowledge the Osbornes’ volunteer history. Both were named Honorary Life Time Members for years of service as president, vice-president, director, treasurer, producer, board member and committee chair. Janie worked behind the scenes as make-up person, handing the box office and tickets and ushering while Tom took center stage as leading man in “Annie Get Your Gun”, “Music Man”, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown”, “Can Can”, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, and as Don Quixote in “Man of La Mancha”. For his portrayal in these roles and their combined devotion to Baraboo Theater Guild, Tome and Janie will be remembered and admired for years to come.