Ostlund, William Conrad (1918-1946)

OSTLUND, CLELLAND, BURRELL, MARSH

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 6/28/2016 at 11:20:14

Daily Freeman Journal, Saturday, February 16, 1946

William Conrad Ostlund was born on July 2, 1918, on a farm south of Duncombe, Iowa. He was the first child born to Mary Clelland Ostlund and Newet Marcelius Ostlund. He was baptized in the Norwegian Lutheran church in Duncombe.

The family moved to Webster City in 1923. He was confirmed in the English Lutheran church in 1931, and was graduated from the Lincoln high school in 1936. He was a member of all high school athletic teams and a member of the academic honor society.

He attended Iowa State college for a year and was a member of freshman athletic teams and was initiated into Phi Delta Theta fraternity. The following year he transferred to Butler university in Indianapolis, Ind., and was graduated in 1941 with a B.S. degree in business administration. He was a member of the three class honorary societies, editor of the college year book, president of Phi Delta Theta and was admitted to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.

For a year following graduation he was associated with his mother in the Webster City Implement company. During this time he became a member of the Masonic order in Webster City.

In February, 1942, he enlisted in the United States navy. He reported to naval reserve officers' training at Annapolis, Md., in September of that year and upon completion of the course was commissioned an ensign.

On Jan. 5, 1943, at the naval academy chapel in Annapolis, Md., he was united in marriage with Peggy Burrell of Indianapolis, Ind.

Having volunteered for submarine duty he was transferred to Key West, Fla., and later to New London, Conn., for further training. In July, 1943, he departed from the United States for overseas service and was on his fourth patrol when reported missing aboard the U.S.S. Gudgeon as of May 5, 1944. On Jan. 28, 1946, word was received from the secretary of the navy stating that in view of no further information either official or unconfirmed since the submarine had been reported missing, it must be presumed that all aboard had perished.

His father passed away on Aug. 3, 1930. William is survived by his wife, Peggy Burrell Ostlund, his mother, Mrs. Mary O. Marsh, two brothers, Robert and John and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clelland.

Memorial services were held in the English Lutheran church, Sunday afternoon, Feb. 10, with the Rev. H.C. Coovert officiating, using as his text Rev. 2:10, "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the crown of life." Mrs. Coovert had charge of the music and a double quartet composed of Mrs. Merrill Coursey, Mrs. F.S. Prater, Mardella Warland, Irene Mueller, C.M. Loper, M.E. Fardal, Milo Foster and Guilford West, sang "My Jesus As Thou Wilt," and "Abide With Me."

The American Legion presented the flag to Mrs. Peggy Ostlund.

The church was filled to capacity with relatives and friends, gathered to pay their last respects to the memory of Bill.