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'''John Chapman Ostlund''' (September 29, 1927 – April 27, 2004) was a diversified [[business]]man from Gillette and [[Cheyenne, Wyoming|Cheyenne]], [[Wyoming]], who served in his state Senate from 1973 to 1978, when he resigned to seek the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Governor|gubernatorial]] nomination. As the [GOP nominee, he came within 1 percentage point of unseating [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Governor]] Edgar Herschler of Kemmerer in Lincoln County in western Wyoming. Ostlund lost his sight in 1985 because of complications from [[diabetes]]. Thereafter, he became an advocate of the blind and penned his memoirs to benefit the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Smithtown, [[New York]].​

'''John Chapman Ostlund''' (September 29, 1927 – April 27, 2004) was a diversified [[business]]man from Gillette and [[Cheyenne (city)|Cheyenne]], [[Wyoming]], who served in his state Senate from 1973 to 1978, when he resigned to seek the [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[Governor|gubernatorial]] nomination. As the [GOP nominee, he came within 1 percentage point of unseating [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] [[Governor]] Edgar Herschler of Kemmerer in Lincoln County in western Wyoming. Ostlund lost his sight in 1985 because of complications from [[diabetes]]. Thereafter, he became an advocate of the blind and penned his memoirs to benefit the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Smithtown, [[New York]].​

 

==Background==​

==Background==

 

Ostlund was the second son born to Axel William Ostlund (1891–1982) and the former Mary Spence "Polly" Roberts (1902–1980) in Gillette in Campbell County in northeastern Wyoming.<ref>Social Security Death Index:http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi</ref> In 1944, he graduated from Campbell County High School and then entered Kemper Military School in Boonville, [[Missouri]], which closed in 2002. He received an appointment to the [[United States Naval Academy]] at [[Annapolis]], [[Maryland]], from Republican [[U.S. Senator]] Frank A. Barrett of Wyoming. He graduated in 1949 with the commission of [[ensign]] and served on the destroyer ''Meredith'' in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The diagnosis of diabetes required him to retire from the Navy in 1950. During a stay at St. Albans Naval Hospital on [[Long Island]], New York, he met the Navy nurse, Ensign Mary Virginia Ryan (born May 29, 1928). On January 13, 1952, the couple wed in Mount Vernon, New York. They settled in his native Gillette.​<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.stevensonandsons.com/Forsyth/2004%20Obits/Obit,%20Ostlund,%20John.htm|title=John Ostlund obituary|publisher=Stevensonandsons.com|accessdate=September 9, 2019}}</ref>

Ostlund was the second son born to Axel William Ostlund (1891–1982) and the former Mary Spence "Polly" Roberts (1902–1980) in Gillette in Campbell County in northeastern Wyoming.<ref>Social Security Death Index:http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi</ref> In 1944, he graduated from Campbell County High School and then entered Kemper Military School in Boonville, [[Missouri]], which closed in 2002. He received an appointment to the [[United States Naval Academy]] at [[Annapolis]], [[Maryland]], from Republican [[U.S. Senator]] Frank A. Barrett of Wyoming. He graduated in 1949 with the commission of [[ensign]] and served on the destroyer ''Meredith'' in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The diagnosis of diabetes required him to retire from the Navy in 1950. During a stay at St. Albans Naval Hospital on [[Long Island]], New York, he met the Navy nurse, Ensign Mary Virginia Ryan (born May 29, 1928). On January 13, 1952, the couple wed in Mount Vernon, New York. They settled in his native Gillette.​<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=http://www.stevensonandsons.com/Forsyth/2004%20Obits/Obit,%20Ostlund,%20John.htm|title=John Ostlund obituary|publisher=Stevensonandsons.com|accessdate=September 9, 2019}}</ref>

Ostlund and his brother, Axel Roberts "Bob" Ostlund (1925-2008), were involved in a multitude of business activities in Gillette:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29891834/axel-roberts-ostlund|title=Axel Roberts "Bob" Ostlund|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 9, 2019}}</ref> John Deere Farm Machinery, plumbing  and heating, sheet metal, banking, and the construction and op-2008)eration of motels and restaurants. Their interest also reached into manufacturing, [[real estate]], investments, agri-business, and mineral leasing and exploration.<ref name=obit/>​

 

Ostlund and his brother, Axel R. "Bob" Ostlund, were involved in a multitude of business activities in Gillette: John Deere Farm Machinery, plumbing  and heating, sheet metal, banking, and the construction and operation of motels and restaurants. Their interest also reached into manufacturing, [[real estate]], investments, agri-business, and mineral leasing and exploration.<ref name=obit/>​

==Political and community service==

 

==Political and community service==​

Ostlund was chairman of the Campbell County Republican Party from 1961 to 1969. He then served for several years as a state Republican committeeman. In 1969, Governor Stanley K. Hathaway named Ostlund to the board of trustees of the [[University of Wyoming]] at [[Laramie, Wyoming|Laramie]].  During his term, UW developed its Fine Arts Center.<ref name=obit/>​

Ostlund was chairman of the Campbell County Republican Party from 1961 to 1969. He then served for several years as a state Republican committeeman. In 1969, Governor Stanley K. Hathaway named Ostlund to the board of trustees of the [[University of Wyoming]] at [[Laramie, Wyoming|Laramie]].  During his term, UW developed its Fine Arts Center.<ref name=obit/>​

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From 1970 to 1995, the Ostlunds owned the historic Remount Ranch twenty-three miles west of  Cheyenne. During the early years, the ranch was a weekend home, but it was a full-time residence for the last eleven years until it was sold.<ref name=remount>Website about historic ​

From 1970 to 1995, the Ostlunds owned the historic Remount Ranch twenty-three miles west of  Cheyenne. During the early years, the ranch was a weekend home, but it was a full-time residence for the last eleven years until it was sold.<ref name=remount>Website about historic ​

Remount Ranch of Wyoming:http://www.remountranch.com/historybody.html</ref> The couple made extensive restorations to the property and hosted civic, educational, and social functions there. By 1985, Ostlund had gradually lost his sight but continued many community activities, including service on the board of the Wells Fargo Bank, the Cheyenne United Medical Center Foundation, the Governor’s Mansion Foundation and the acclaimed Old West Museum in Cheyenne.  He was also a member of Cheyenne Rotary International and the Cheyenne Young Men’s Literary Club.<ref name=obit/> In 1995, the Ostlunds relocated to Cheyenne and sold Remount to the Bangert family, which returned it to its previous status as a working ranch.<ref name=remount/>​

Remount Ranch of Wyoming:http://www.remountranch.com/historybody.html</ref> The couple made extensive restorations to the property and hosted civic, educational, and social functions there. By 1985, Ostlund had gradually lost his sight but continued many community activities, including service on the board of the Wells Fargo Bank, the Cheyenne United Medical Center Foundation, the Governor’s Mansion Foundation and the acclaimed Old West Museum in Cheyenne.  He was also a member of Cheyenne Rotary International and the Cheyenne Young Men’s Literary Club.<ref name=obit/> In 1995, the Ostlunds relocated to Cheyenne and sold Remount to the Bangert family, which returned it to its previous status as a working ranch.<ref name=remount/>​

 

==Death and legacy==​

==Death and legacy==

 

In 2001, Ostlund published his autobiography, ''Quite a Life'', which he dedicated to his eight grandchildren.<ref>Bookfinder, ISBN 1-58783-003-5?9781587830037 ? 1-58783-003-5, publisher Elton-Wolf: http://www.bookfinder.com/author/john-c-ostlund/</ref>  All proceeds from the sale of the book were donated to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, the organization from which he obtained his two guide dogs. His most recent dog, Russ, died unexpectedly several weeks before Ostlund's own passing. Ostlund sometimes took his guide dogs into classrooms in elementary schools to demonstrate how he and the dogs worked as a team to assist him in maintaining his many activities. Despite his handicap, Ostlund maintained many private interests, including playing the [[piano]].<ref name=obit/>​

In 2001, Ostlund published his autobiography, ''Quite a Life'', which he dedicated to his eight grandchildren.<ref>Bookfinder, ISBN 1-58783-003-5?9781587830037 ? 1-58783-003-5, publisher Elton-Wolf: http://www.bookfinder.com/author/john-c-ostlund/</ref>  All proceeds from the sale of the book were donated to the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, the organization from which he obtained his two guide dogs. His most recent dog, Russ, died unexpectedly several weeks before Ostlund's own passing. Ostlund sometimes took his guide dogs into classrooms in elementary schools to demonstrate how he and the dogs worked as a team to assist him in maintaining his many activities. Despite his handicap, Ostlund maintained many private interests, including playing the [[piano]].<ref name=obit/>​

 

Ostlund died at his home in Cheyenne. In addition to his wife and brother, he was survived by his eight children: Peg Ostlund of Cheyenne, John Ostlund, Jr., of Westminster, [[Colorado]]; Nancy Essery of [[San Diego]], [[California]]; Tom Ostlund of Cheyenne, Karin Ostlund of [[Denver]], Colorado; Patrick Ostlund of Douglas; Jane Gebhart and Scott Ostlund, both of Gillette. A mass of [[Christian]] burial was delivered on May 3, 2004, at St. Matthew's [[Roman Catholic]] Church in Gillette.<ref name=obit/>​

Ostlund died at his home in Cheyenne. In addition to his wife and brother, he was survived by his eight children: Peg Ostlund of Cheyenne, John Ostlund, Jr., of Westminster, [[Colorado]]; Nancy Essery of [[San Diego]], [[California]]; Tom Ostlund of Cheyenne, Karin Ostlund of [[Denver]], Colorado; Patrick Ostlund of Douglas; Jane Gebhart and Scott Ostlund, both of Gillette. A mass of [[Christian]] burial was delivered on May 3, 2004, at St. Matthew's [[Roman Catholic]] Church in Gillette.<ref name=obit/>​

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[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Catholics]]​

[[Category:Catholics]]​

[[Category:Blind people]]​

[[Category:Blind people]]​

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