Robert Graham Ostrander

Robert G. Ostrander, 91, of Rockford, IL, formerly of River Forest, Elmhurst, and Marco Island, FL, passed away peacefully in his home on August 19, 2016. Born on November 5,1924 in Berwyn, IL, son of John and Marguerite Ostrander, Bob grew up in River Forest, graduated from Fenwick High School, Oak Park, and attended Purdue University where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. He proudly served his country in the Army Air Corps from March of 1944 to December of 1945 as a 1st Lieutenant and co-pilot of the ‘Dorty Treek,’ a B-24 "Liberator" Bomber in the 491 Bomb Group, 853rd Squadron. Bob's 20th and final mission was on November 26, 1944 when his plane was shot down, he was wounded in action, and became a Prisoner of War held in Stalag Luft II. He was liberated/rescued in May 1945. Bob received a Purple Heart Medal and Air Force Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters for his service. Bob came home and married the love of his life, Joan Donahue Ostrander on June 15, 1946, recently celebrating their 70th anniversary. His entire career was spent as a manufacturer at his company, the Ostrander-Seymour Co., until his retirement to Marco Island. Bob loved his wife, his family, his country, the Chicago Bears, Cubs, and Blackhawks, traveling, and fishing, whether it be at his beloved Corey Lake in Michigan, on Lake Michigan, or at Marco. Some of the highlights of his life were his trips, especially one to the Beaches of Normandy with his wife and his Air Force Squadron, and one sponsored by Honor Flight Chicago to Washington, DC, to see the WWII Memorial.
Along with his devoted wife, Joan, Bob is survived by his children, Charles W. (Patti) Ostrander of Bloomingdale, Barbara ‘Babs’ (Dr. William) Erickson of Cherry Valley, and Erin (Russell) Lettenberger of Wood Dale; grandchildren, Dan, Nick, and Andy Ostrander, Haley (Kyle) Haworth, Brittany (Gary) Glidden, Kristi and Keri Erickson, Heidi (Randy) Henson, and Amy Lettenberger; and great-grandchildren, Millie and Piper Ostrander, Svea and Gretta Glidden, and Carly and RJ Henson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in the name of Bob Ostrander to Honor Flight Chicago, http://www.honorflightchicago.org, 938 W. Montana Street, Chicago, IL 60614-2409, or Northern Illinois Hospice, http://www.northernillinoishospice.org, 4215 Newburg Road, Rockford, IL 61108. The family wants to send a special thank you to all of the compassionate caregivers at Brookdale Senior Living and Northern Illinois Hospice. To send a condolence or share a memory, visit www.fitzgeraldfuneralhome.com.