Ivan John Ostrander

Friday, November 27, 2009

Ivan John Ostrander, 92, Nevada, passed away Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada following a lengthy illness. He was born Sept. 29, 1917, in Pittsfield, Mass., to Jesse Boyd Ostrander and Sarah Jane Martin Ostrander. He was married Oct. 18, 1947 in Sioux Falls, S.D., to Joan Schweitzer, and she survives of the home.

Mr. Ostrander was born in Pittsfield, Mass., and grew up in Gallupville, N.Y., in Schoharie County. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, primarily in the South Pacific, where he was a Waist Gunner on a B-24 aircraft. Following the service he attended Augustana College, graduating with a degree in Art. He worked for a number of years as a commercial artist. He then began his career as an art teacher in Axtel Park in Sioux Falls, S.D. He continued to pursue his education, earning a masters degree. Following his retirement, he moved to this area in 1984 and spent the remainder of his life here. He was a member of the BPOE, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Disabled American Veterans. He spent his retirement traveling, hunting, fishing, and gardening.

In addition to his wife Joan, survivors include three sons, John Ostrander, Sioux Falls, S.D., Richard Ostrander, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Mathew Ostrander, Grande Island, Neb.; two daughters, Jeanette Ostrander, Hilo, Hawaii, and Carol Ostrander Gunsalus, Maple Hill, N.C.; four grandchildren, Lucas Ostrander, the state of California, Phillip Ostrander, Casper, Wyo., Mike Ostrander, Sioux Falls, S.D., and Beth Vanaman, the state of Hawaii; one great-grandchild, Liam Ostrander, the state of California.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 28, at Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada, with the Rev. Lester Thornton officiating. Interment will be at a later date in National Cemetery, Fort Scott.

Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.

Memorial contribution may be made in his honor to the American Cancer Society in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada, MO 64772.

View obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.