Alan Osmond, the eldest member of The Osmonds, has passed away at the age of 76. Born in Ogden, Utah, Alan breathed his last breath at around 8:30 p.m. local time on Monday, April 20th, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the family to ABC4 Utah and CBS affiliate KUTV. Alan's wife, Suzanne Pinegar Osmond, and their eight sons were present by his side as he took his final breath.
The singer had retired from performing after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 40 years ago, as stated by the outlet. Alan's brother, Merrill Osmond, 72, paid tribute to his beloved brother, saying in a statement obtained by PEOPLE, "It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of my beloved brother, Alan Osmond. I was grateful to be with him shortly before he passed and to share a final meaningful moment together."
Merrill also wrote on Facebook, "My dear friends, Two days before my brother, Alan, passed, I was blessed to sit quietly with him. We talked as brothers do, heart to heart." He continued, "He was struggling, but when I shared a joke or two, he found the strength to chuckle... and then he smiled. In a tender moment I will never forget, he leaned close and whispered something into my ear. He said, 'Merrill, you and I worked side by side.'"
The musician added, "He wanted me to tell you how much he loved you, and I believe that with all my heart. He gave everything he had to the Lord, to his family, and to all of you. He truly was a missionary. He truly was a saint."
Donny also paid tribute to Alan on Instagram on Tuesday, April 21st, sharing a throwback black-and-white photo of the pair alongside the caption, "This is one of the earliest pictures I have of my brother Alan and me. Even back then, you can see that he had his arm around me, watching over me."
"Alan was our leader in every sense of the word," Donny wrote. "His tireless work helped build everything we became. I will always be grateful for the sacrifices he made and the love he showed—not just to me, but to every member of our family."
Alan is survived by his wife of 51 years, Suzanne, as well as his eight sons: Michael, Nathan, Doug, David, Scott, Jon, Alex, and Tyler. He also has 30 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Throughout the years, Alan helped create the Children's Miracle Network Telethon which has raised over $2 billion for children's hospitals and launched the One Heart Foundation to help support orphans. A spokesperson for the family said that upon meeting Alan, "One might feel as though they had known him all their life."
The spokesperson added that Alan "especially treasured the countless fans who supported the group."
