H. D. "Jack" Ostergard

Harry Dale “Jack” Ostergard passed away on May 16, 2018 after a brief illness.

Book Signing will be on Thursday, June 21, 2018, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, 620 Tenth Street, Gothenburg, NE.

A Celebration of Jack's Life will be held on Friday, June 22, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church, 1401 Lake Ave, Gothenburg, NE.

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 US 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 2 ½ 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.

Jack is survived by his wife Mary, his children Ann (Mrs. Carl Weekley of Lake Placid, FL) and Ross Ostergard, as well as two brothers Ron (husband of Kayleen Ostergard) and Larry (widower of Joan Ostergard); sisters-in-law Connie Ostergard and Sue Ostergard; brother-in-law James Norsworthy; along with numerous nieces and nephews and John Loostrom.

Predeceasing Jack 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.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the First United Methodist Church, Gothenburg Senior Center, Gothenburg Fire Department or the Custer County Museum.

A Celebration of Jack's Life will be held on Friday, June 22, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church, 1401 Lake Ave, Gothenburg, NE.