WALDOBORO – Dustin Osier’s industrious nature revealed itself as soon as he was old enough to start toddling around.

The first sign was his strong desire to have a rake in his hands and go to work on the lawn, where he contentedly spent hours.

Activity and hard work were threads that ran throughout the course of his life, whether it was hustling over to his grandfather’s home to help with a task, getting the firewood out in the winter or working long hours at the farm that employed him.

Mr. Osier died Friday in a car accident on his way to work. He was 18.

A 2010 graduate of Medomak Valley High School, Mr. Osier was in a transitional period of his life.

He was working at Spear’s Vegetable Farm in Nobleboro and splitting time between the Waldoboro home of his parents, John and Lisa Osier, and the Dixfield home of his girlfriend, Brianna Janke. The young couple were thinking about getting an apartment together.

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Mr. Osier had also decided he wanted to go to college to study physical education and become a coach.

In the meantime, Mr. Osier was waking at 3 a.m. to get to the farm by 5 a.m. He’d finish work at 7 or 8 in the evening and head to his family’s home, where he’d grab a bite to eat, shower and visit before making the two-hour drive to Dixfield.

“He really didn’t mind working,” John Osier said. “It didn’t matter if it was hot out, cold, raining, snowing.”

Mr. Osier loved sports, and played baseball, soccer and basketball.

His father described him as a strong defensive soccer player — comfortable on the back field rather than someone who wanted to be on the front line scoring all the time.

That characteristic was in play with baseball and basketball, and outside of sports as well.

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“I think he was more comfortable to be in the background, supporting others, inspiring the team,” John Osier said.

Mr. Osier benefited from the guidance of two mentors: family friend Jeremy Reynolds and his second cousin, Nick DePasty, both of whom coached him in basketball.

He, in turn, became a mentor to the children he coached in Pee Wee basketball.

Mr. Osier could be a bit shy, but he was a friendly personality. And he was always generous with his big, bright smile — particularly with kids.

He was the protective eldest sibling to his brother, 17-year-old Shane, and his sisters, 13-year-old Hannah and 8-year-old Haley.

The boys, just a year apart, could aggravate each other, but Mr. Osier would be quick to stick up for his brother whenever there was need.

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He had a soft spot for his sisters, treating them to ice cream, telling their father to go easy on them or taking them shopping — a pastime he learned to love at his mother’s side.

“I think he realized they did look up to him. I think he just felt like instilling in them, ‘If you need me, give me a call,’” John Osier said. “I think it maybe, in a way, extended beyond his siblings. He totally and thoroughly enjoyed being near kids.”

So many people are expected at the funeral Wednesday that it will be held at Medomak Valley High School.

John Osier said he has been overwhelmed at the number of people whose lives had been touched by his son.

“I don’t think he realized how many people, really, he had befriended,” he said. “Maybe he did.”

Staff Writer Ann S. Kim can be contacted at 791-6383 or at:

akim@pressherald.com

 


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