Michael Osberg

Michael Osberg, 1981-2021

Michael Matthew Osberg, age 40, died on November 2, 2021, surrounded by family. He was a Colorado native and grew up in Westminster, CO. After graduating from Pomona High School in 2000, Michael attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Hawai'i at Hilo. He was at his happiest when he lived in Hawaii and prided himself for looking like and fitting in as a local. He took great joy in learning about native plants and native Hawaiian woodcarving practices. One of the elders and his kumu (teacher) called him "Mike Mountain," which he loved.  He graduated from CU with a degree in Anthropology in 2004. Michael was incredibly creative and had a passion for art, cooking and plants. He was an award-winning artist, owner of a graphic design company and an aspiring chef working in several restaurants and a hotel. Despite his many talents, his favorite role was being “Uncle Michael” to his nephew and niece, Jack and Jade. He was known for his preferred seating at the "kids' table" on holidays and booby-trapping presents to make all occasions into lasting memories. Michael was generous, kind, thoughtful, unique, hilarious and marched to the beat of his own drum. He specialized in sketching with charcoal, oil painting, watercolor, wood working, silk screening and commercial vinyl projects. His sketchbooks are as diverse as his talents with pages of ideas, measurements for projects, drawings and recipes for ethnic food. He is irreplaceable and greatly missed. Michael is survived by his parents, Iris and Jim as well as his sister, Molly Pereira, and brother-in-law, Mike Pereira. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness ( NAMI.org ) or The Jed Foundation ( jedfoundation.org ).