Changes

| state=[[Wyoming]]​

| state=[[Wyoming]]​

| party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]​

| party=[[Republican Party|Republican]]​

| office=State Senator for Campbell and Johnson counties]]​

| office=State Senator for Campbell and Johnson counties​

| term_start=1973​

| term_start=1973​

| term_end=1978​

| term_end=1978​

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/>​

 

In 1972, Ostlund unseated state Senator Richard A. Mader (1923–2001) of Gillette in the Republican [[primary]] to represent Campbell and neighboring Johnson County, which was the site of a notorious range war in the early 1890s. He won the  [[general election]] in the fall and was reelected in 1976. The 1970s were a time when Wyoming, and particularly Campbell County, were experiencing growth in mineral development. Ostlund, a [[conservative]] Republican, was chairman of the Senate Mines, Minerals and Industrial Development Committee and was involved in the development of the Wyoming Community Development Authority, the Coal Tax for Impact Assistance, and the School Foundation Program to finance capital facilities. Ostlund listed his most important accomplishment as the acquisition of the land for the "Camplex," the multi-activities center for Campbell County.<ref name=obit/>​

In 1972, Ostlund unseated state Senator Richard A. Mader (1923–2001) of Gillette in the Republican [[primary]] to represent Campbell and neighboring Johnson County, which was the site of a notorious range war in the early 1890s. He won the  [[general election]] in the fall and was reelected in 1976. The 1970s were a time when Wyoming, and particularly Campbell County, were experiencing growth in mineral development. Ostlund, a [[conservative]] Republican, was chairman of the Senate Mines, Minerals and Industrial Development Committee and was involved in the development of the Wyoming Community Development Authority, the Coal Tax for Impact Assistance, and the School Foundation Program to finance capital facilities. Ostlund listed his most important accomplishment as the acquisition of the land for the "Camplex," the multi-activities center for Campbell County.<ref name=obit/>​

 

In the spring of 1978, Ostlund resigned from the state Senate to run for governor. In the primary, he polled 40,251 votes (58.9 percent) to defeat Gus Fleischli, a Rawlins native who was in the [[petroleum]] business in Cheyenne, who received 24,824 ballots (36.4 percent). In a mostly Democratic year nationally, Ostlund was then defeated in the general election by Herschler: 67,595 votes (49.1 percent) to 69,972 (50.9 percent). Four years earlier as the GOP nominee, trucking executive and former State Senator Dick Jones of Cody in Park County received 56,645 (44.1 percent) to Herschler's 71,741 (55.9 percent). Ostlund hence ran 10,950 votes ahead of Jones, but Jones had faced voters in a more heavily Democratic year nationally.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections'', p. 1538</ref>​

In the spring of 1978, Ostlund resigned from the state Senate to run for governor. In the primary, he polled 40,251 votes (58.9 percent) to defeat Gus Fleischli, a Rawlins native who was in the [[petroleum]] business in Cheyenne, who received 24,824 ballots (36.4 percent). In a mostly Democratic year nationally, Ostlund was then defeated in the general election by Herschler: 67,595 votes (49.1 percent) to 69,972 (50.9 percent). Four years earlier as the GOP nominee, trucking executive and former State Senator Dick Jones of Cody in Park County received 56,645 (44.1 percent) to Herschler's 71,741 (55.9 percent). Ostlund hence ran 10,950 votes ahead of Jones, but Jones had faced voters in a more heavily Democratic year nationally.<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections,'' p. 1538.</ref>

 

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{{cite web|url=http://www.remountranch.com/historybody.html|title=Remount Ranch|publisher=Remountranch.com|accessdate=September 9, 2019}}</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>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookfinder.com/author/john-c-ostlund/|title=''Quite a Life''|publisher=Elton-Wolf|location=[[Seattle]], [[Washington]], and [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]]|author=John C. Ostlund|isbn=1-58783-003-5|publisher Elton-Wolf|accessdate=September 9, 2019}}</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. His mass of [[Christian]] burial was held on May 3, 2004, at St. Matthew's [[Roman Catholic]] Church in Gillette.<ref name=obit/>​

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==References==​

==References==​