Joe Ostermann

Joe Ostermann passed away on July 20th, 2024, at the age of 91 years.

Joe was born on August 4, 1932, at Saint Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg to German immigrant parents, Fritz and Anna. He was raised on the family farm in their German farming community of Little Britain near Selkirk, Manitoba. Joe was born to first-generation Canadians and grew up speaking fluent German at home. It was not until he started school that he began to learn English. The oldest son in a large family, he grew up with hard work and responsibility on the farm. As a child he attended school in Lockport until grade nine before transferring to St. Paul's High School in Winnipeg, where he graduated.

In 1951, at the annual Schuetzenfest held in Little Britain, Joe met Connie Oel from Calgary, who would become the love of his life. Joe later moved to Alberta to be with Connie and took a job in Calgary with Honeywell. Joe and Connie married in 1954 and farmed in the Vulcan area for two years before eventually settling on the farm east of Carstairs in 1958, where they had a mixed cattle and grain farm.

In the early eighties, Joe graduated out of his cattle operation and instead took up downhill skiing and enjoyed bike trips on his Harley. He retired from grain farming in 1998, and the following years were filled with travel adventures with Connie and lots and lots of family celebrations with children, grandchildren, family and friends. Joe was hard working, and loved working outside on the farm with his children and grandchildren. Joe was always slow to anger, would remain cheerful in all weathers, and could fix ANYTHING. To all who knew him, Joe was a very generous person in all things. He gave freely of his time and money in order to help others, but it was his love of his family and the farm that were most abundant.

Joe lived on his beloved farm for 66 years until April when he could no longer continue. Joe and Connie had a passionate and enduring relationship that lasted 73 years. Joe’s passing has left a crater in our hearts.

Joe will be lovingly remembered by his family, wife, Connie; children, Theo (Diana), Kurt (Val), Kim (Graham), Kelly (Den), and Joseph (Nadine); sixteen grandchildren and five great- grandchildren; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Joe is survived by his dear brother, Ernie (Joan); and sister, Marie Steltenpool of Winnipeg.

He was predeceased by his parents, Fritz and Anna; as well as sisters, Anna Schmidt, Clare Ostermann, Pauline Kreutzer; and brother, Theo Ostermann.

The family would like to thank all the staff at the Didsbury Hospital and all the staff at the Bethany Didsbury for taking care of Dad in his last months. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bethany Care Society in Didsbury, (bethany7754.thankyou4caring.org/donate).

Services for Joseph Ostermann

September 7, 2024

10:00 a.m. - Funeral at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Carstairs

12:00 p.m. - Celebration of Life at Carstairs Community Hall