Donald J. Ostrom Obituary
Donald John Ostrom, 86, of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, passed away on September 13, 2025, at the Clement Zablocki VA Medical Hospital after courageously living with a rare cancer for over 30 years.
Born to Ralph and Estelle (Dudley) Ostrom, Don spent much of his early life in the care of his grandparents, where he developed a lifelong love of the outdoors. He treasured memories of fishing and hunting with his grandpa and exploring with his dog.
Don was proud of his military service. While still in high school, he completed Marine Corps Boot Camp, later joining the U.S. Air Force to train in electronics. His service took him to Cape Cod and to remote Alaskan islands, and he carried the lessons and discipline of the military with him throughout his life.
Following his discharge, Don began a long career as a sales representative for Lindberg, A Unit of General Signal. His work brought him to many parts of the country, including California, Arizona, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Dedicated to his customers, he built a reputation for exceptional service and professionalism. In 1996 he started his own firm. Midwest Thermal Systems, where he continued to support his many long-term customers and was proud that he remained active in his work until just last year.
Don is survived by six children: Wendy (Ray) Koziol, Sue Ellen Ostrom (Mark Pernitz), James Ostrom, Glenn (Irina) Ostrom, Craig Ostrom, and Lance (Laurel) Ostrom. He also had fourteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He enjoyed hearing about his family's many adventures, often offering words of caution and encouragement.
Don had many interests outside of work. He loved hunting, gardening, woodworking, and caring for his dogs. His love for the outdoors remained a constant and he took great pride in his garden and watching the wildlife in his backyard. A skilled craftsman, he recently built a beautiful bench for the garden but liked it so much that it never made it outside. Known for his quick wit, he valued laughter and life's simple joys.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Patricia Demay and Jeanne Koster.
His family wishes to extend special thanks to the caregivers at Home Instead, whose support allowed Don to remain in his home until his final days. They are also deeply thankful to his doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and at the VA Hospital and Clinics in Milwaukee for their dedicated care over many years.
A graveside service with military honors will be held at St. Jerome's Cemetery 906 S. Concord Rd. Oconomowoc on Saturday September 20, 2025, at 11am, where family, friends, and neighbors are welcome to gather in remembrance of Don's life.
Service Saturday, September 20, 2025 11:00 AM St. Jerome Cemetery 906 S. Concord Rd.
