Dean Ostrander
Dean Ostrander, 81, of Broken Bow, Neb., passed away Saturday March 18, 2023, at Quality Living in Broken Bow.
Dean Ostrander was born to Lee and Eila (Heigh) Ostrander on Aug. 2, 1941, in their home, the oldest of three children.
He met Marian Heath at Cody High School. After four years of dating, they were married on Sept. 25,1961 in Cody, Nebraska at the Methodist Church. They had three children: Deanna, Mark and Cary.
Dean worked in farming/agriculture all his life. He was very creative when times were tough with their dairy, and made ends meet with hunting and trapping. The family moved to Broken Bow in 1979.
Dean found his calling helping youth accept
God as their Lord and Savior. In 1984 he founded Merritt Youth Retreat. Attendance started small and grew to 120-plus youth over the years and is on-going.
He was known for his famous hot chocolate. In April 2006 Dean developed and started a shooting complex that would eventually be called
Powder Creek Sports at Camp Maranatha where he taught youth to shoot trap and sporting clays. Eventually this grew to holding meets and is still on-going. Dean also took his equipment to Camp Witness near Long Pine and other locations.
He loved helping youth in their spiritual paths through Awana, Sunday School, missionary work, youth retreats and Maranatha Bible Camp. Dean was a strong Christian who had a passion for our Lord Jesus Christ. He made an impact on countless lives.
Dean was a beloved father and grandfather. The Lord called Dean home on March 18, 2023. He will be greatly missed by his family and many, many others.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents Lee and Eila Ostrander; brothers David Ostrander and Larry Ostrander; and wife Marian Ostrander.
He is survived by his daughter Deanna Muellner (Tom); sons Mark Ostrander and Cary Ostrander; grandchildren Kyle Courtney (Ronna), Leah Boone (Derek), Shannon Cruise (Jeremy), Andrew Ostrander (Amy), Rachel Kursave (Tehl), Valerie Selko (Jason), Darrin Ostrander, Brittany Schmitt (Tim), Cory Ostrander (Courtney) and Megan Ostrander (fiancé Logan): and 21 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Wednesday March 22 at 10:30 a.m. at the Berean Bible Church in Broken Bow with Pastor Larry DeMoss officiating. Burial was in the Broken Bow Cemetery. Visitation was Tuesday March 21, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Govier Brother’s Mortuary with family greeting friends Tuesday evening 5 - 7 p.m. at the Berean Bible Church.
Memorials are suggested to the Berean
Bible Church. An online guestbook can be signed at www.govierbrothers. com.