Earl Wayne Ostrander, 97, of Chanute, died Sunday, March 10, 2013 at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center.

Earl was born in Fredonia on April 6, 1915, the son of Nelson and Emma Koch Ostrander. He graduated from Fredonia High School in 1933 and attended Fredonia Business College. He later married Almeda Hendrickson on August 26, 1936 in Olathe. She preceded him in death on Sept. 12, 2008.

He was drafted into the Army in 1945 and was stationed at Camp Fannin, Texas, Fort Bragg, N.C., and Fort McClellan, Ala. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Earl began serving his church at an early age and was the youngest deacon elected at the First Christian Church in Fredonia. After moving to Chanute he joined the First Christian Church in Chanute where he was a youth group leader, deacon, and elder. He was also a member of The American Legion Boerstler-May Post #170, Masonic Cedar Lodge #103, Fort Scott Scottish Rite, and Mirza Shrine in Pittsburg.

He worked at Ford Motor Company and Bell Body Shop as a mechanic specializing in auto body paint and repair. He later retired from the Post Office in Chanute. He enjoyed woodworking, golfing, and was a faithful blood donor where he held the record after giving 23 gallons.

Earl is survived by family three daughters, Emily Ann Guentert and her husband, Richard, of Des Moines, Iowa, Peggy Forbes and her husband, Duane, of Pratt, and Rita Waltermire and her husband, Jay, of Garnett; seven grandchildren, Laura (Vince) Hartshorn, Don (Carla) Lee, Justin (Rachel) Waltermire, Stacy (Greg) Gwin, Janet Forbes Albért, Diana (Brian) Sullivan, David (Erna) Guentert; and 16 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, one granddaughter, Brenda Forbes, three brothers, Paul, Raymond, and Guy Ostrander, and one son-in-law, Donald J. Lee.

The family will receive friends this evening from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Gibson Chapel.

Funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 13 at the First Christian Church in Chanute. Burial will follow in the Fredonia City Cemetery.

Memorials in his name may be made to the First Christian Church in Chanute and may be left with the funeral home.

To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabelChanute.com