Ossian Wirengard

The Entertainment industry has suffered a great loss this week. On Tuesday, August 30, 2011, world-renowned circus performer, Ossian Wirengard, passed away at the age of 104 ½ years young. He and his wife of 64 years, Emma Lena, came to the United States from Sweden in 1955. They later moved to the Tampa area, where they resided for the next 50 years and performed a high pole act throughout the United States, as well as in Europe, South America and South Africa during the apartheid years. They even had the great honor of performing before the Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation. Ossian was admired for designing, building, and setting up his own circus equipment for performances. Ossian retired at the age of 65 and then began a new business creating and making circus equipment for circus performers. At 80 he proudly transformed his machine shop into making wooden fantasy things; jewelry boxes, bowls, bracelets, as well as ingenious, ancient chest replicas with no metal fasteners.

Ossian is survived by his four children; two sons, Bernt Wirebjer and Robert Wirengard both of Tampa and two daughters, Osa Flory of Massachusetts and Hjordis Vanover of Oklahoma. He is also survived by, son in law Christopher Flory and daughter in law Christina Wirebjer, as well as his many grandchildren and great grandchildren. A son, Leif Wirebjer, passed away in 1980.

In his death, it might be said, a piece of each of us died; but, truth be told, a piece of his greatness lives on, within each and every-one who knew him, as does Emma’s, too. Ossian was dearly loved and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

Ossian has made his final and greatest performance, climbing the high pole in the skies, where his beloved wife, Emmy waits on top to welcome him to the big show.

A memorial service will be held at Stowers Funeral Home 401 W Hwy 60, Brandon , FL on September 17th, 2011 at 2 pm.