Harry Dale “Jack” Ostergard, 89, passed away May 16, 2018, after a brief illness.
Jack was born on April 1, 1929, the second son of Harry and Ilene Ostergard. Jack grew up with five brothers on a ranch in Custer County. He attended Gothenburg High School and was a member of the State Championship Football team, class of 1945.
Jack served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict, predominantly on the USS Curtis AV4.
He returned home to wed Mary Norsworthy in 1952. To this union three children were born, Greg who died at 2½ months, Ann and Ross. Jack and Mary celebrated 65 years of marriage last summer.
On retirement from ranching in the late 1990s, Jack developed new passions in real estate and in writing cowboy poetry, producing several books and delivering his poetry and humor in seven states. In addition, he worked to preserve the history of small towns in Nebraska and to promote public art. He was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner.
In 2010, Jack was inducted into the Dawson County Cattleman’s Hall of Fame and in 2015 the Sandhill Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Preceding Jack in death were his parents; his son, Greg; brothers, Don (husband of Sue Ostergard), Jim (husband of Betty Ostergard) and Dick (husband of Connie Ostergard); his parents-in-law, Roscoe and Gail Norsworthy; sister-in-law, Virginia Norsworthy; brother-in-law, John Norsworthy; nephews, Douglas Norsworthy and Steve Ostergard.
Jack is survived by his wife, Mary; children, Ann (Carl) Weekley of Lake Placid, Florida, and Ross Ostergard; two brothers, Ron (Kayleen) Ostergard and Larry (widower of Joan Ostergard); sisters-in-law, Connie and Sue Ostergard; brother-in-law, James Norsworthy; along with numerous nieces and nephews and John Loostrom.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, Gothenburg Senior Center, Gothenburg Fire Department or the Custer County Museum.
Services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 22, at the First United Methodist in Gothenburg. The memorial book may be signed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 21, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, which is in charge of arrangements.