Bill Ostlund

William (Bill) Charles Ostlund, the son of John and Beverly (Juhl) Ostlund, was born April 5, 1947, in Hot Springs, Ark., and left this life on Jan. 29 in Des Moines.

He lived his life to the age of 72 years, nine 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’s 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, Wyo., 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 Jan. 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 the 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, Kan.; daughter Sarah, and three 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, 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, Calif.; 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.

Funeral services for William Ostlund were held on 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 “Just as I Am,” “In Christ Alone” and “We Will Dance” were performed by the Trinity Church Band and sung by the congregation. Soloist Libby Anderson (Bill’s cousin) sang “Here I Am Lord” and the “Doxology.”

Honorary casket bearers were Nancy Timmons, Guy Richardson, Ellie Brown, Larry Fie, Judge Ronald Schechtman, Dee Lindsey, Judge Adria Kesler, 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.

Bill’s family would like to acknowledge and express sincere appreciation to the members of the Greene County I-Club, the Greene County Bar Association and justices and staff members of Iowa Judicial District 2B.

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.”

Funeral arrangements were made by Brown Funeral Home of Jefferson.