Richard F. Ostry Sr.

Visitation

Jan 20, 2022 to Jan 21, 2022

Biography

Richard F. Ostry, Sr. was a beloved great-grandfather, grandfather, father and husband for over 90 years of a remarkable life. He passed away on Monday, January 17, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He will be missed by the friends he made at Friendship Village where he lived for the past eight years. Known as the Candy Man, he traveled through the building handing out candy to those he passed along the way, always sporting his U.S. Marine Corps hats and sweatshirts. Mostly, he will be missed by his family. He is survived by his five children and their spouses, his son Richard and his wife Gerri, his daughter Cynthia and her husband Eric Anderson, his daughter Susan and her husband John Bellon, his son Robert and his wife Celeste, and his daughter, Sharynlyn and her husband Geoffrey Morgenstern. He is also survived by his nine grandchildren, Brendan, Samantha, Tyler, Marnye, Ryan, Baylee, Arielle, Jake and Alyssa and his five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Ava, Charlotte, Olivia and Thomas. Born to his parents Joseph and Mary (Wykrentowicz) Ostry in South Haven, MI on March 5, 1931 he worked on the family farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse with his sister’s Florence and Felicia and brother Joseph. He later moved to Chicago with his family where he worked in the family bakery. Proud of his Polish heritage, he passed down his family pastry recipes, kolatskys in particular. Also known as Dick, he spent 2 tours of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War, where he found a passion for aviation. His treasured airplanes and books of aircrafts from WWII and Korea were shared with all he knew. As a sergeant in the Marine Corps, he was proud of his good conduct medal and later became a member of the Marine Corps League. Dick’s wife Elizabeth (Betty Socha) was the mother to their five children and passed away on January 15, 1982. Before her passing, as a family, they spent their time riding bikes, playing cards, camping, visiting family and throwing parties. He later wed Janice Cheverette and became stepfather to her seven adult children, enjoying 30 years together before her passing. Dick and Jan enjoyed travelling in their trailer with their dachshunds and he often shared that his favorite place to visit was the Black Hills. Everyone who knew him, knew that he loved working with his hands and creating something new always with a pencil in his hand. He drafted his plans on the kitchen table for things like an air cushion vehicle in the garage or skating rink, pigeon and rabbit cages or a pond in the back yard. Later when he and Jan moved to Lake Carroll, he enjoyed working in his shop, which included building a train from old riding lawn mowers for his grandchildren. Always having $2 bills on hand, he passed them out to his children and grandchildren telling them they were only to be used for emergencies! And at 90 years old he learned to enjoy selfies, especially with his granddaughters who always found a way to make him smile. Before passing, Dick said he wanted to go home to Wood Dale. We could only imagine him singing the Marine Corps Hymn along the way. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 20th from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. and Friday, January 21st from 9:00 a.m. until time of Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. at The Oaks Funeral Home, 1201 E Irving Park Rd (at Prospect) Itasca. Interment at Queen of Heaven. For funeral info: 630-250-8588 or www.oaksfh.com