Grandpa's obituary

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November 14, 1926 - November 18, 2007

Richard James “Dick” Ost, husband, father, and over 25 year resident of Colorado Springs, CO, died on November 18, 2007. A funeral service will be held at Shrine of Remembrance at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday. Visitation will be held one hour prior. Interment will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Ost was born in Kansas City, Missouri on November 14, 1926. He served his country as an Electrician’s Mate in the Pacific theater during World War II and was honorably discharged in June 1946. Upon leaving the Navy, he studied engineering at the Missouri School of Mines at Rolla. He was registered as a Professional Engineer in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. After serving a four-year apprenticeship in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Mr. Ost was recognized as a Class A Journeyman. He was a member of Local Union #124 of the IBEW since 1950. Mr. Ost enjoyed a successful career as an engineer, designing and supervising the construction of numerous power plants in the U.S.
Mr. Ost was recognized as a Senior and Life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He was a Life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 4051, a member of the National Rifle Association and a certified NRA Instructor for Personal Protection and for pistols and revolvers. He was also a member of the Law Enforcement Alliance of America.

As a youth, Mr. Ost was active in the Boy Scouts, achieving the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout/Mic-o-Say. He was actively involved with the Scouts as a leader with his sons’ troops and with Scout Headquarters in Kansas City. He was an avid swimmer and tennis player.

On October 7, 1950, Mr. Ost married Mary Catherine Duggins, and to this union, seven children were born. Mr. Ost was preceded in death by his parents, his brother William, a daughter, Theresa and son, Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Mary of Colorado Springs, daughters Catherine (Hamilton) Kirkland, Shawnee, KS and Rose Anne Ost, Colorado Springs; daughter-in-law, Lisa Ost, Linn, KS; and by sons Stephen, Roeland Park, KS; Edward (Sheila), Overland Park, KS and Paul, Denver, and by close family friend Will Biles. Mr. Ost also leaves eight grandchildren: Matthew and Alexander Kirkland, Rachel and Jacob Ost, Natalie and Nicole Ost and Nicholas and Samantha Ost.

Surviving brothers are Jack (Genevieve) Ost of Pompton Plains, NJ; Mark (Carole) Ost of Pineville, Missouri; sister, Patricia (Frank) Regan of O’Fallon, Missouri and sister-in-law Patricia Ost of Kearney, Mo. Also to miss him are many nephews and nieces.

Mr. Ost was locally known as a “Curmudgeon at Large” and took great delight in making people smile and laugh every day with his enormous repertoire of humorous stories and anecdotes. He had a great love of the writings of Mark Twain. He did not suffer fools lightly, but was a protector of the elderly and weak.

The family requests no flowers, and instead suggests memorial donations to Pikes Peak Hospice Foundation, 825 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Suite 600, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3624, or Care and Share Food Bank, 2520 Aviation Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80916.