Otto O. Ostby, 87, Kensett, Iowa

Otto O. Ostby, 87, of Kensett, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2002 at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, Iowa.

His funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Kensett, with the Rev. Selmer G. "Sam" Hernes officiating. Interment will follow at the Kensett Cemetery, where military honors will be conducted by Our Buddies VFW Post #6779 of Northwood. Friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Bride Colonial Chapel, 110 E. Spring St., Manly, Iowa, and one hour prior to service time at the church. Memorials may be directed to Bethany Lutheran Church or the Kensett Lions Club.

Otto O. Ostby, son of the late Paul I.D. and Emma (Gavle) Ostby, was born Oct. 12, 1914, in rural Emmons, Minnesota. He was baptized by his grandfather, the Rev. P.G. Ostby. Otto received his education in rural Freeborn County schools. He moved with his parents to a farm in rural Kensett in 1931. Otto was united in marriage to Genevieve Berge on July 16, 1939. He entered the Army in April of 1944 and was assigned to the 28th infantry division, and served overseas. He was captured by the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge and was liberated March 30, 1945. He spent the next six months in various hospitals and received an honorable medical discharge in September of 1945. He was one of five brothers who served in WWII. He was appointed Kensett postmaster May 1, 1946, where he served until his retirement in 1978. He enjoyed fishing and playing cribbage with his cronies.

Otto was very active in community affairs, serving on the Kensett and later the Northwood-Kensett School Board for 29 years. He was a Scout leader for two years, and little league baseball coach for several years. He served on the Kensett Library Board, was secretary of the Kensett Telephone Co., served as city clerk, and also as councilman. He was an avid fund raiser for Little League baseball. He served on the Kensett Fire Department for several years. At the time of his death, he was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, where he had served on the council and also as president of the congregation. He was instrumental in the completion of the Kensett cemetery sidewalk project. Otto was a charter member of the Kensett Lions Club, life member of the VFW, Ex POWs, and the DAV.

He is survived by a son, Paul Ostby, and his wife, Charlene, of Richmond, Mich; a daughter, Janice, and her husband, Larry Christensen, of Mason City, Iowa; two grandchildren, Dennis Ostby and his wife, Rita, and Diane Muglia and her husband, Aldo; one step-grandchild, Sherri Slifka; five great-grandchildren, Drew Ostby, Lance Ostby, Grant Ostby, Blake Muglia and Lee Muglia; two step-great-grandchildren, Steven Jenkins and Ashley Riniker; one brother, Roger Ostby, and wife, Naomi; three sisters, Mildred Bakken, Edythe Stovern, and Clarine Ryan; and six sisters-in-law, Norma Berge, Connie Berge, Ina LaDouceur, Frida Ostby, Helen Ostby, and Bobbi Ostby.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Genevieve; three sisters, Palma Nygaard, Rachel Gauthier and Pearl Erickson; and four brothers, William, Paul Eugene, Thomas and Wallace.