The Reverend Douglas Harold Ostlund died on January 31, 2011, in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. He was born March 13, 1925, in Maurice, Iowa, the son of Harold Ostlund and Nona (Keyline) Ostlund. He attend school in Maurice until he left school at age 17 to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He married Marcella (Sally) Moret on August 25, 1944.
Following his service to our nation, Rev. Ostlund returned to northwest Iowa to attend college. He received his Associate of Arts degree from Northwest Iowa Junior College and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Upon graduation, he attended Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, while serving churches in Kansas and Iowa. He later attended Butler Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana. Rev. Ostlund was a participant in the early conversations between the Congregational Christian Churches with the Evangelical and Reformed Churches regarding a possible merger. In 1957, Rev. Ostlund was one of the first individuals to be ordained by this new church, the United Church of Christ. He served churches in Edgerton, KS; Kingsley, IA; Manson, IN; Aurelia, IA; Ipswich, SD; Eyota, and Bertha, MN; Friend, NE; Marilyn, Thief River Falls and La Crosse, WI and numerous others. In January of 2005, Reverend and Mrs. Ostlund moved to Deepwater, MO. Throughout his ministry he mentored other pastors and often served on Conference Committees. He was a member of Valley Center United Church of Christ, where he continued his ministry by visiting shut-ins and assisting in worship. In 2007, he was honored as a Statesman in the United Church of Christ, an honor that recognized his fifty years of service since ordination.
Doug and Sally were blessed with six children: Dennis, wife Audrey Ostlund of Pine Island MN, Douglas, Jr, wife Joan of Wadena, MN, Dori, husband Joel Semler of Deepwater, MO, Daniel, wife Wanda Ostlund of Taipei, Taiwan, Deb, husband Tim Cary of Wadena, MN, and Dee Dee Ostlund of San Antonio, TX. He had 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. He was also survived by two brothers Wayne and Gordon Ostlund and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, and his wife, Sally, who died on January 24, 2001. He will be missed by the many friends and families whose lives were touched by his love and grace.
Leave a Reply