Wayne Osmond, brother of Donny and Marie, dead at 73 after massive stroke: We will miss him dearly

Wayne Osmond, brother of Donny and Marie Osmond has died.He was 73.One of the four members of the Osmond Brothers, Wayne passed away on New Year’s Day, his family confirmed in a statement to ABC news affiliate KTVX.

Wayne’s brother Merrill Osmond, 71, told the local Utah outlet that the singer had a massive stroke.After learning the news, Merrill said he drove to the hospital and “was able to say [his] goodbyes.”“Wayne Osmond, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by his loving wife and five children,” the Osmond family’s statement read.“His legacy of faith, music, love, and laughter have influenced the lives of many people around the world.”“He would want everyone to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true, that families are forever, and that banana splits are the best dessert,” the family added.“We love him and will miss him dearly.”The first of the Osmond siblings to pass away, Wayne was the second-oldest of the original Osmond Brothers group and the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond children.He was only six years old when he and his brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay began singing as a barbershop-quartet style act in Ogden, Utah in 1958.The Osmond Brothers rose to fame in the 1960s after performing at Disneyland and were spotted by the father of singer and TV host Andy Williams, who booked the group to appear on his “Andy Williams Show.”The young Mormons presented a wholesome clean-cut image and also became teen idols at the time.

Wayne suffered from a litany of health problems over the years.He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1997.

Though treatment for the tumor was successful, the treatment left him nearly deaf.In 2012, he had a stroke and was unable to play the guitar after.Some of Wayne’s siblings remembered their brother in posts on social media.

Jay Osmond, 69, wrote on Instagram, “Throughout my life I have always felt most connected to Wayne out of all of my siblings.�...