Arthur W. “Art” Osmer

Arthur W. “Art” Osmer, 75, of Main Street, Petrolia, a well-known lifelong Petroleum Valley resident, passed away early Thursday morning at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Arthur was born April 3, 1942, in Petrolia. He was the son of Wilbur W. and Susan D. Coleman Osmer. Mr. Osmer was of the Roman Catholic faith. Art was a 1960 graduate of Karns City-Fairview Township High School, and served in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was employed for 40 years at Penreco in Karns City and retired as the foreman of outside contractors in 2000. In his earlier years, Art was an EMT and had been an active member of the Petrolia Ambulance Service and the Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department.

Art was well-known for decades as a talented racecar builder and driver and was very proud of his team at Osmer Family Racing. He was a regular at Lernerville for more than 35 years racing late-model #6A. Art raced in various divisions for most of his life at various tracks in the tristate area.

Arthur was a member of the Butler Rod Fathers, the Pittsburgh Circle Track Club, the Pennsylvania Vintage Modified Club and the Twin State Auto Club, which inducted him into their hall of fame.

He enjoyed hunting, tinkering and working on various projects in his garage. Art was a proud owner of a 1939 John Deere “B,” which he restored. He loved spending time with his grandsons, and sitting by the campfire with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl J. “Pam” Weibel Osmer, whom he married Jan. 15, 1966, at St. Eusebius Roman Catholic Church in East Brady.

He is also survived by three children, Wes Osmer of Petrolia, Sandra Sherwin and her husband, Keith, of Parker, and Dan Osmer and his wife, Heather, of Butler; four grandchildren, Gregory and Jonathan Sherwin of Parker and Wesley and Dash Osmer of Butler; three sisters, Helen Little of Artesia, N.M., Joyce Briggs of Leechburg and Sylvia Myers and her husband, Paul, of Vandergrift; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in- law.

Arthur was preceded in death by his parents.

OSMER — Friends of Arthur W. “Art” Osmer, who died Thursday, July 6, 2017, will be received from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Hile Funeral Home of Karns City, 128 Main St., Karns City.A blessing service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Rick Thompson, pastor of the Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Chicora, officiating. Interment with military honors provided by the Chicora, East Brady and Bradys Bend American Legion posts will take place at the Bear Creek Cemetery, Petrolia.Memorial contributions in Mr. Osmer's name may be made to your local ambulance service or fire department.For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.