David Ostergaard

DAVID OSTERGAARD

Cedar Rapids

David Ostergaard of Armstrong passed away Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville at age 69 after a two-year battle with prostate cancer. Funeral services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel, Armstrong, with Pastor Lauri Boysen officiaing. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the chapel. Burial: St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Ringsted.

David A. Ostergaard, son of Arne and Elsie (Regner) Ostergaard, was born Dec. 6, 1945, in Swea City, Iowa, in a house which had the doctor's office on the main floor and birthing rooms upstairs. This house is now the site of the Historical Museum.

He received his education in Swea City Schools, graduating from Swea City High School in 1964. After high school, he attended Iowa State University in Ames, where he graduated with a mechanical design engineering degree. Throughout his profes-sional career, David was employed as a mechanical design engineer in the aggregate equipment manufacturing industry – 40 years in Cedar Rapids, Eugene, Ore., and Yankton, S.D.

He was a holder of 14 U.S. registered patents in the design of heavy rock crushing machinery. He was a registered professional engineer in Iowa and Oregon.

In his leisure time, he enjoyed trapshooting, hunting, fishing and bicycling. He would often be seen riding his bike all over Armstrong.

David was a true lifelong learner and in his later life, undertook the study of the German language. He often would throw out German words and phrases during conversation, trying to engage others in his interest.

He also was intrigued with computer technology and was determined to stay current in all things electronic. He made a list of every item he wanted to update, from his smart phone, to his smart TV, to his smart camera. He enjoyed having all those things communicate. He also enjoyed keeping up with family and friends online, researching everything that was of interest and shopping. It really made his day to find free shipping!

David's immediate family was small, but he expanded his distant family through the research of his genealogy and learned of faraway cousins in this country and from Austria. He enjoyed corresponding with them very much.

He enjoyed being with family and after his retirement, he moved to Armstrong, where he quickly integrated himself into the lives of his young cousins, teaching them to shoot guns (while teaching them gun safety), building Erector Set projects and playing games. He enjoyed attending their sports and school events, and many family get-togethers, big or small.

He was a gentle soul and he will be very missed.

He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, National Rifle Association and sporting clay shooting clubs in every location he has lived throughout his career. He also taught gun safety to youth in Cedar Rapids for 25 years.

Left to cherish David's memory are his cousin, Lori Walders-Bensley, her husband, Evan, and family of Lake Park, Iowa; distant cousins from across the globe; and a host of friends.

www.henryolson funeral.com