James E. Ostrander, 88 of Beatrice, Nebraska, died on Tuesday, December 31st, 2024, in Beatrice, Nebraska.  He was born on October 21, 1936, in Horton, Kansas, the son of Edward M. and Martha E. Kreuzburg Ostrander.  He married Violet Wilson on December 16. 1960, they had two children and later divorced. He later married Deloris Ward on July 7, 1986.

 

James was raised and educated in Hiawatha, Kansas. He then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1955 and was honorably discharged in 1958.  During this time, he served at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, Vance Air Force Base, Enid, OK, and then overseas at Chaumont, France stationed with the 48th Fighter Bomber Wing. He relocated to Galesburg, IL where he worked for the CB&Q Railroad for over 10 years, Kanartex Paint Corp. for 10 years and Butler Mfg. Company. He then relocated to Enid, OK where he went to work for Great Lakes Carbon Corp for 17 years retiring in 1999, then moving to Beatrice, Nebraska.

He enjoyed woodworking, fishing, playing cards, having a good time, and in his later years some good porch sitting. He was artistic and a very skilled wood carver, which his family greatly benefited from. When he was able, he was always working on his many woodworking projects which he would give as gifts to all of his family.

Surviving are his children: Michael (Connie ) Ostrander of Wataga, IL and Jaylene (Ron) Keith of Galesburg, IL;  5 stepchildren: Robert, Tom, Kevin, Barbara, and Regina;  three grandchildren: Ryan, Jonathan, and Tiffiany ;  four great-grandchildren: Jordan, Gabrielle, Nicholas, and Conner;  two sisters: Delores Mason of Knoxville, IL and Sherry Bittfield of Lincoln, NE;  brother-in-law: Junior Wilson of Knoxville, IL  along with his many nieces and nephews, their families, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his spouses, parents, three brothers: Walter Ostrander of Missouri, Daniel Ostrander of Missouri, and William Ostrander of Nebraska; a niece: Lisa Lehman; a nephew: Kenneth Ostrander; brothers-in-law: Robert Lehman, and Robert Mason; sisters-in-law: Bea Ostrander, and Dorothy Ostrander; great-nephew Timothy Ostrander, stepdaughter Jane Patrick, and many other dear friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at the Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice with Sharon Schuster officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday. Burial will take place at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday following the service in the Hiawatha Cemetery in Hiawatha, Kansas with military honors conducted by the Brown County Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation. www.foxfuneralhome.net  Arrangements entrusted to Fox Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Beatrice.