Donald R. Ostrom 80, Brownsburg, met his lifelong friend Jesus on December 22, 2024. Born to Everett and Eleanor Ostrom on July 13, 1944, he was introduced to Jesus early, and as a five-year-old, he asked his mother if he could have Jesus in his heart, too. His childhood was spent, as a pastor's kid, in East Chicago, IN; Greeley, CO; Brantford, KS; Cleveland Heights, OH; and New York, NY. He began school in a one-room schoolhouse in Kansas and graduated from Flushing High School in New York City. He excelled as a college student at North Park University in Chicago, IL. Knowing he wanted to pursue ministry, he began seminary classes at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, received his Master of Divinity degree in 1973, and was ordained in The Evangelical Covenant Church denomination in 1974. His ministry career spanned over fifty years as a youth minister, intern pastor, lead pastor, interim pastor, and on-call hospital chaplain. He served eight churches in seven states – Chicago, IL; Arnold, CA; Maplewood, MN; Traverse City, MI; Duluth, MN; Lincoln, NE; Pomeroy, IA; and DuBois, PA. Since 2019, Don has been a member of Hope Covenant Church in Indianapolis, IN.

After Don retired from full-time ministry in 2014, he continued as an on-call hospital chaplain and worked a few hours a day as a medical courier in Pennsylvania. When he moved to Indiana in 2019, he began delivering Meals on Wheels, became a MENtor for kindergarteners in Brownsburg Education Foundation's Real Men Read program, was on the board for his condominium association, led a Bible study for retired men, started gardening, came alongside friends in health crises, and loved spending time with his four nearby grandchildren.

Don married Kay Forsman in 1965 and together, they adopted Margaret (Meg) and David in 1968, Shari in 1974, and Timothy in 1977. Sadly, David passed away in 1991 and Kay passed away in 2000. Don married Darlene (Nicoletto) Madvig, who had also been widowed, in 2001.

Don is survived by his wife Darlene Ostrom; his children Meg Jones, Shari (Joe) Plumb, and Timothy Ostrom; his stepdaughter Rachel (Stephen) Zimmerly; his grandchildren Tara (T.J.) Calhoun, Candis (Brad) Cooper, Kaylynn Plumb, Nolan Zimmerly, Ephraim Zimmerly, August Zimmerly, and Junia Zimmerly; his great grandchildren Tamra Miller, Cameron Calhoun, Tyler Cooper, and Abel Cooper; his siblings Paul Ostrom and Myrna (Don) Hines; his father-in-law Daniel (Gayle) Nicoletto; his sisters-in-law Lori Lavery and Sally (William) Charlson; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Everett and Eleanor Ostrom, his first wife Kay Ostrom, his son David Ostrom, his parents-in-law Glen and Sylvia Forsman, his brother-in-law Brian Forsman, and his sister-in-law Sue Ostrom.

A favorite and meaningful Bible verse for Don has been "God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." 1 Corinthians 1:9

Visitation will be held at Matthews Mortuary, 690 E. 56th Street, Brownsburg, IN 46112 on Friday, January 3, 2025 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Hope Covenant Church, 8615 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN 46260 on Saturday, January 4, 2025 beginning at 12:00 noon followed by lunch.

Memorial gifts in Don's name may be sent to The Santiago Partnership (serving the underprivileged in Ecuador, South America through homes for at-risk children and medical clinics), 48364 Genesis Drive, Suite A, Coshocton, OH 43812 (www.santiagopartnership.org) or Mission Meadows (Christian camp and retreat center located on Chautauqua Lake in western New York), 5201 Route 430, Dewittville, NY 14728 www.missionmeadows.org