On June 9, 2024, Reverend Lynn Harmon Ostrander peacefully passed into the arms of his Lord and Savior. Lynn, born in Open Brook, he was the middle son of three born to Lee Ephraim and Dorothy Fortner Ostrander. Lynn was an avid outdoorsman watching birds, counting birds seen daily, hunting, gathering wildflowers, butterfly collecting, and “tromping through the woods”.
A veteran of World War II, he earned a purple heart on his first mission when his plane was shot down on Christmas Day 1944. Lynn spent 4 months as a POW.
After being discharged from the service, he went to work in the glass factory in Port Allegany. At a church function, he met the love of his life, Gertrude Jordan. They were married in July 1949 and shortly after, Lynn entered Houghton College (now Houghton University). During the years at Houghton, two sons were born. Lynn was called by the Lord to earn a theology degree and following graduation, he and his family moved across the country to Portland, Oregon for seminary.
Once his theology degree was completed, the family moved back to Pennsylvania for Lynn to start a new job with the Western Pennsylvania Evangelical Brethren conference. He served the following charges during his career as pastor: Coryville, Farmers Valley, Bear Lake, North Clymer, Albion, Brown Hill, and Hill Memorial. During his career, the EUB merged with the Methodists to become the United Methodist Conference. During this time, two more children were added to the family.
Lynn was a man of many talents. He loved to sing silly songs and recite poems he memorized during his youth, and to sing hymns. His woodworking skills were known by many and included carving and painting birds, inlaid woodwork, wooden shelves, cedar chests, inlaid wood flowers, and gun cabinets. In retirement, Lynn and Trudie began weaving placemats, table runners, coasters, guitar straps and many other items.
Lynn loved being with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many of them have used his stories of World War II for projects at school. They are very proud of their grandfather’s service to our country. Lynn took the Honor flight to Washington to visit the World War II Memorial in 2021.
In the Ostrander household, everyone loved “Lynn’s” Sunday night popcorn recipe that remains a favorite to this day.
The highlights of Lynn’s last year were his 100th birthday party with 40 family members attending and his 74th wedding Anniversary to his life partner and love Gertrude.
Lynn was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, David; sister-in-law, Elaine; and many cousins. Lynn is survived by his wife of 74 years, Gertrude Jordan Ostrander; brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Mary Ostrander; his sister-in-law, Dorothy Pond; his children, Charles (Susan) Ostrander, Alfred (Pamela) Ostrander, Robert (Marjorie) Ostrander, and Lynette (Larry) Hill; his grandchildren, Megan Sneary, Naomi (Dan) Trivison, Aimee (Jamie) Conklin, Ruth Northrop, Zara Ostrander, Michele (John) Ford, Alanna Abreu, Peter Ostrander, and Jordan (Brandon) Workman; plus 16 great grandchildren.
We will all greatly miss Lynn’s presence in our lives, and we rejoice that he is home with his Lord and Savior.
Calling hours will be on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from 10:00 am to Noon at Trinity Fellowship Church, 1235 Old Stonehouse Road, Jamesville. The memorial service will follow beginning at Noon. A luncheon will follow the memorial service.
His burial will take place at the Grimes Cemetery, on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Noon.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Syracuse Veterans Hospital, Houghton University, Wounded Warrier Project, or a nonprofit of your choice.
Local arrangements are under the direction of the Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hollenbeckcahill.com