Larry J. Ostendorf

Larry John Ostendorf
December 13, 1932 to February 5, 2024

Ostendorf, Larry John age 91, formerly of Freeport, Eagan and Glencoe passed away peacefully February 5, 2024. He was born December 13, 1932 in Krain Township, Stearns County, MN and grew up in St. Francis of Assisi, St. Francis, MN to parents Ben and Mary (Thielen) Ostendorf. In 1953 he married Dorothy Thelen. Together they raised six children before her passing. In 1993 he found love again and married Phyllis (Wosmek) Sopkowiak. Their union brought 30 years of companionship and adventures to Alaska, Texas and Mexico.

Larry held a variety of jobs such as bus driver, police chief, fire fighter, and his favorite; a heavy equipment operator building roads with the 49ers. 

Larry was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus. He reveled in the simple pleasures of life enjoying dancing, fishing, playing cards, polka fests, and laughing with everyone he greeted. At their Texas home, Larry enjoyed purchasing meals for families in need during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.  He was known for restoring bicycles and donating them to children in need.  He and Phyllis coordinated the weekly senior dances in their park, spending nearly 20 winters greeting friends and together dancing countless polkas and waltzes.

Larry is survived by his wife Phyllis Sopkowiak; children Sue (Chuck) Walz, David (Sue) Ostendorf, and Keith (Marina) Ostendorf and stepchildren Jerome (Lisa) Sopkowiak, Lyle (Jaye Ann) Sopkowiak, Joyce (Ron) Wohler, Joanne (Richard) Foust, and Lois Reishus; 17 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. 

Preceding Larry in death were his first wife Dorothy in 1985; children Michael Ostendorf in 1992, Joanne Ostendorf in 2002, and Sharon Ostendorf in 2020; his parents; and all nine siblings and their spouses Richard (Edna) Ostendorf, Mary Ostendorf, Gilbert (Monica) Ostendorf, Leona (Cecil) Prokop, Veronica (Walter) Morgel, Clarence (Marcella) Ostendorf, Roman Ostendorf, Herbert (Delories) Ostendorf, and Glorine (Eugene) Raeker.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 12:30 PM on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at St Pius X Catholic Church in Glencoe, Minnesota.  Visitation will be held two hours before Mass at the church. Inurnment will take place at Holy Family Cemetery, Silver Lake, MN.

Memorials are preferred.

Maresh Funeral Home, Silver Lake, MN assisted the family with funeral arrangements.