Memorials may be made to any local hospice organization.
INTERMENT: West Liberty Cemetery, Glenwood, Iowa
Ray Roger Ostrander, 63, of Tampa, Florida, formerly of Glenwood, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska, entered into eternal rest after a long battle with cancer. Ray was born April 27, 1945 in Hollywood, California and was placed in an orphanage where he was adopted one year later by Cleil Ray and Ilah (Funk) Ostrander. When Ray was three, his parents returned to Glenwood, which was home for both. Ray was raised in a happy, busy household along with his younger sister, Linda, who was also adopted.
Ray’s life was full of sports and music. He took piano lessons from age three through eighteen. He played the saxophone from 5th through 12th grade. During high school, Ray played football, basketball and baseball. He attended his freshman year of college at Sioux Falls College in South Dakota, but dropped out to join the Army. Ray was stationed in Hawaii, and later volunteered for duty in Vietnam, where he served as an aide to General Westmoreland. When he returned to Glenwood, he married Michelle Sell. To this union, two children were born, Karri and Ryan. During this time, Ray completed college at the University of Nebraska with a degree in Computer Science. He went to work for Allied Chemical, IBM and for 17 years was employed with various management recruiters in Omaha, where he received many honors for his work. Ray loved recruiting and was an expert in the field. He said it gave him a chance to help people fulfill their career goals.
Ray’s other lifetime interests were cars and music-old cars and “oldies but goodies”. In 1991, Ray relocated to Denver, Colorado, where he met and married Ann Butterfield. With retirement in mind, they later moved to Tampa, Florida where Ray eventually opened his own recruiting business. Ray bragged that he had found his own private utopia in Florida with the water and beaches. He never tired of exploring the beautiful coast in his vintage Sebring convertible.
Preceding Ray in death were his parents. He is survived by his wife Ann Butterfield of Tampa, Florida; son Ryan Ostrander of Orlando, Florida; daughter Karri Hall; grandchildren Hunter, Dillon and Jenna Hall, all of Columbus, Nebraska; sister Linda Palmer of Council Bluffs, Iowa; and a host of friends.
Visitation:Monday, December 22, 2008
6:30 PM
212 South Locust
Glenwood, IA51534
Service:Tuesday, December 23, 2008
10:30 AM
212 South Locust
Glenwood, IA51534
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