Alan Donald Ostermann, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away quietly on the morning of April 8, 2025. He was 78 years old. In his final hours, Alan was surrounded in love by his Wife of 54 years, Kaye, his 3 children, his 2 brothers, and his older sister.
Alan was born to Donald and Elda Ostermann on February 7, 1947. He was born in Sylvan Grove, Kansas, in the middle of a winter blizzard. As the story goes, unable to get to the hospital, Alan was placed in the oven for incubation. A literal “bun in the oven”!
Alan spent his younger years attending parochial school at Bethlehem Lutheran. He spent his formative years growing up on, and working on the family farm. Alan’s childhood on the farm shaped his early life’s passion, raising and riding horses. Alan loved and enjoyed sports. The love of which never left. He grew up bleeding purple for his beloved K-State Wildcat teams. Alan would later take up the game of golf. Alan attended Sylvan Grove High School and went on to attend Kansas State University. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science. He was an active member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, and a leader of his class of Kansas State Reserve Officer Training Corps (R.O.T.C.).
Directly after college graduation, Alan took his commission in the United States Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, branched as a Transportation Officer. Alan’s first duty station was the United States Military Academy, “West Point” in New York. Alan went on to be promoted to 1st Lieutenant and was transferred to his final duty station at Fort McClellan, Alabama, where he would meet and marry his beautiful wife, Kaye Suzanne Meyer, also a 1st Lieutenant in the US Army. On April 10, 1971 (54 years), Alan and Kaye were married on post in a beautiful military wedding complete with saber arch attended to by his cousin/best man Dru Richard, also a 1st Lieutenant.
After resigning their commissions honorably in 1971, Alan and Kaye moved back to Alan’s hometown of Sylvan Grove, Kansas. Alan took a position at the Sylvan State Bank, where he worked until 1992.
Alan was extremely active in the Sylvan Grove community. He and Kaye were extremely active in the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (Lucas, KS). Alan was involved with and actively participated in the Lion’s Club, the American Legion (Post 359), and the Saddle Club. He volunteered with the local Fire Department as a fire-fighter, and EMT. Alan, at one point, reaching the rank of assistant fire chief. The busy couple also had and raised 3 children, and in 1992, moved to Katy (Houston), Texas.
In Texas Alan worked in insurance, banking, car sales, and auto financing. Alan and Kaye were extremely active with their congregations (dates unknown) at Memorial Drive Lutheran (Houston, TX); Living Word Lutheran (Katy, TX), and finally Memorial Lutheran (Katy, TX). The couple moved back to Abilene, Kansas in 2016, where they were very active with Faith Lutheran Church. Alan was also a member and active officer with the American Legion, Post 39, Abilene, Kansas. Alan was honored, in his home, by the local post members, with a lifetime achievement award. Alan and Kaye were moved again in 2024 and have since resided at the Bella Rose Retirement Community in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Alan’s loving spirit is carried on by his wife of 54 years, Kaye; their 3 children Lisa Maydian (Dale); Nathan Ostermann (Krista), and Seth Ostermann (Sarah); his siblings Linda Laird (Dick), Jerry Ostermann (Becky), Scott Ostermann (Chris); nine grandchildren; and many wonderful nephews and nieces. Alan was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Elda Ostermann.
To honor Alan’s memory, a Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church located at 119 E 3rd St, Sylvan Grove, Kansas. There will be a family visitation at 10:00 a.m. at the church preceding the 11:00 service on May 3. All are welcome to attend the graveside service following directly afterwards at the Sylvan Grove Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at 1 p.m. at the Senior Center located at 109 S Main Street, Sylvan Grove, Kansas.
Alan battled Parkinson’s for the better part of a decade and was a fighter to the end. Part of this fight was keeping his body fit and active. One of, if not the main way Alan did this was by attending the Impact Sports &Fitness Gym, 418 N Broadway, Abilene, Kansas 67410.
Because of a generous fund set up at the gym for people with Parkinson’s, Alan and his “team” (a surprisingly large group of others with Parkinson’s), were able to attend the gym and participate in an intensive physical training program. This program provided the equipment, and most importantly, personal trainers who tailored specific exercises for him and his “team” that actively worked against the symptoms of Parkinson’s. This program was provided to Alan and his “team”, free of charge.
Alan’s wish, in lieu of flowers, please send donations and make checks payable to:
Memorial Health Hospital, writing “Parkinson’s” in the comments portion of your check. Please send checks to Anita at Impact Sports & Fitness at the afore mentioned address. The phone number to the gym is (785) 263-2100 to make other payment arrangements. Please mention “Parkinson’s Group Fund” to the staff.