William (Bill) Charles Ostlund, the son of John and Beverly (Juhl) Ostlund, was born April 5, 1947, in Hot Springs, AR, and left this life on January 29, 2020, in Des Moines. He lived his life to the age of 72 years, 9 months and 24 days.
Bill grew up in Webster City and graduated from Webster City High School in 1965. He was his class’ president. He attended and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa in 1969. Bill received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wyoming in 1972. He remained a proud Hawkeye and Cowboy the entirety of his life.
On April 14, 1968, William Ostlund was united in marriage to Marcia Ann Niebuhr at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Webster City. They lived in Iowa City until Bill’s graduation from the University of Iowa in 1969. They then moved to Laramie, WY, for three years, where Bill attended law school. Upon completion of his schooling in 1972, they lived in Anamosa, where Bill was a judicial clerk for Iowa Supreme Court Justice Warren J. Rees.
While in Anamosa, their son Andy was born on January 26, 1973. In July of that year, the Ostlunds moved to Jefferson, where Bill began practicing law. Their daughter Sarah was born on March 13, 1974. Bill remained in private practice until being appointed a district court judge for the State of Iowa in 1994. After 21 years in private practice, 11 years as the county magistrate judge, in 1995 Bill began his 24-year tenure in Iowa’s Judicial District 2B on the bench as a judge. On Bill’s 72nd birthday, Judge Ostlund adjourned his court for the final time after serving as a judge for 35 years in total and began retirement.
Throughout Bill’s life he was involved in many organizations and activities. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson. Bill was a member of the University of Iowa I-Club and the Greene County I-Club and the Kansas City Iowa Club. He began attending football games at Kinnick Stadium as a young boy with his father and passed the tradition on to his children and even his grandson, George. Bill was a member of the Greene County Golf Club and a faithful follower of the PGA, attending the Masters Tournament in Augusta, GA, and the Ryder Cup. Bill was a member of the Greene County Bar Association and participated in grading bar exams for many years throughout his career. He also was a member of the Elks Lodge in Jefferson.
If you knew Bill in any way, there’s a good chance you have watched the annual Bell Tower parade from the Ostlunds’ front yard as this was a tradition near and dear to him. Bill collected many things over his life, but pens and watches were two of his favorites. Finally, Bill was an animal lover, especially dogs, being a proud and loving owner to Sadie, Annie, Rocky, Hallie and, his girl, Belle.
On Halloween morning 2019, Bill’s retirement was interrupted with what was the start of his ongoing health battles. He had a heart attack on Halloween, followed shortly by an advanced cancer diagnosis. He battled these issues for three months with his daughter Sarah at his side throughout it all. Andy, Ann, George, Sarah and the rest of his family stood by their father, grandfather and brother during his fight.
William is survived by his son Andy and his wife Ann and their son – the light of Papa Bill’s life – George, and two grand dogs, Oliver and Cooper of Shawnee, KS; daughter Sarah and grand dogs Bo, Weldy and Hazel Grace of Webster City; his beloved pup, Belle; brother John (wife Beth and sons Timothy and Michael) Ostlund of Centreville, VA; sisters Mindy (husband Billy Harkins and daughter and son-in law Emily and John ) of Denver, CO, and Janis (husband Tim Graber and sons and daughters-in-law Matthew and Erin, TJ and Erin and daughter and son-in-law Jenny and Matt) of Costa Mesa, CA; great aunt and uncle Shirley and Don Doolittle of Duncombe; great-nieces and nephews Megan, Molly and Wyatt Burns, Taylor, Harper and Kensington Jo Graber, and Emily, Katelyn and Daniel Peters, as well as many other beloved nieces and nephews and cousins and friends.
Those that preceded William in death were his wife, his parents, father and mother-in-law Albert and Martha Niebuhr, a favorite grandma, Esther Juhl, and beloved friend Dan Boonstra.
Memorials may be given to the University of Iowa Center for Advancement Iowa Law School Foundation (Iowa Law School Foundation) where funds will go to the University of Iowa College of Law’s Clinical Law Program that benefits those in need of legal help that otherwise may not be able to attain it, as well as offering law students the opportunity to put their legal skills to use in a variety of practice areas and venues. {Address: One West Park Road, Iowa City, IA. 52242 with notation “Legal Clinic Fund}
Services for William Ostlund were held Feb. 29 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Webster City. Officiating at the service were Pastor Gina Sterk and Vicar Emily Norris (Bill’s niece). Bill’s eulogy was given by Judge Ronald Schechtman. Musical selections were performed by the Trinity Church Band and sung by the congregation. Soloist was Libby Anderson, Bill’s cousin. Honorary casket bearers were Nancy Timmons, Guy Richardson, Ellie Brown, Larry Fie, Judge Ronald Schechlltman, Dee Lindsey, Judge Adria Kester, John Rowland, Thomas Laehn, and Wayne Lind and Dan Boonstra, both posthumously. A celebration of Bill’s life followed the service at Webster City Links Golf. Interment of ashes will take place later at Graceland Cemetery in Webster City.
Funeral arrangements made by Brown Funeral Home of Jefferson.
