- Date Of Birth: October 18, 1929
- Date Of Death: February 10, 2020
- State: Illinois
Lowell was born October 18, 1929, in Ottawa, the son of Earling and Gernie (Edwinson) Ostrem. He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Helen (Wing) Ostrem, brother Vernon Ostrem, and sister Sharon McNeilley. He married Norma (Maierhofer) Gottselig on February 15, 1964, in Ottawa. She survives.
Also surviving is his son, Stanley (Sampa) Ostrem; one sister, Shirley Fox, of Batavia; two cousins, Jim Ostrem and Elaine Ostrem; and, five nieces, Carla (John) Stone, Rhonda (John) Crate, Doreen (Lance) Taylor, Holly (John) Banister, and Deanna (Rick) Skoczen.
Lowell was a veteran of the US Army of the Korean War serving from 1952-1953.
He was a machinist with Libby Owens Ford in Naplate for 40 years, retiring in July 1994. He was a member of the 35th Infantry Regiment Association and American Legion. He was also a former board member of Cup of Cold Water Ministries; former member of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America; and, former member of the Illinois Valley Idlers.
Lowell had a natural aptitude for all things mechanical and could build, fix, or fabricate almost anything. He was a frequent volunteer with United Way Labor of Love events in the Ottawa area. He also loved going to auctions and picking up things that interested him for many follow-on projects in his workshop.
He and his wife enjoyed spending their retirement years together often going to church events and bluegrass jams.
