- Date Of Birth: June 16, 1936
- Date Of Death: October 29, 2021
- State: Iowa
Don Ostergaard, 85, passed away Friday, October 29, 2021, with his family by his side. He was born on June 16, 1936, in Des Moines to Helen (Waske) and Don Ostergaard. Don worked at John Deere in Ankeny for over 30 years as a tool and die maker and retired in March of 1990. He and Carolyn made their home in Des Moines with their five children. The children gave their parents nicknames “Marge“ and “Jimma” and many people called them by these names. Some even believed these to be their names. Don also called Carolyn his “Girlfriend” and asked their children to buy her B-Bops.
Don coached and umpired baseball at Beaverdale Little League for many years. He also was an avid outdoors man and at one time held two state records for the largest fish, the Saugeye and Wiper. Don is the only person in the State of Iowa that has held two records, and he still holds the Saugeye state record of 12 lbs 4 oz. His passion for fishing lives on as he donated his fish to the Saylorville Lake Visitor Center. Don loved everything about the outdoors, and he pursued it by spending many days fishing at Saylorville Lake and Big Creek and hunted in Southern Iowa on family farms. He enjoyed making many trips to Canada to fish and hunt moose and liked to teach anyone about fishing who wanted to learn, including a homemade knot. For many years, he poured lead heads and the family helped. Don enjoyed spending time with his family by going to see games, fishing, spending holidays together and having them over to visit.
Don is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Carolyn; daughter, Shawn Sly; son, Wayne (LuAnn) Ostergaard; daughter, Sheryl Johnson (Jerry); daughter, Stacey (Alan) Bowles; and son, Blaine Ostergaard (Angie). His grandchildren include Joshua (Amanda) Ostergaard, Jason (Meghan) Ostergaard, Samantha (John) Neel, Jeffery Sly, Andrew Bowles, Christopher Bowles and Abbigail Bowles. His great grandchildren include Isla, Eleanor and Maxwell Ostergaard, Clara, Keaton, Nolan, Felicity, and Violet Ostergaard, Elsie and Aniston Neel and one cousin.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister.
