Wayne Ostrander, 86, of Shepherdsville, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2023, after a brief illness.
He is survived by his wife Judy, his daughter and son-in-law Becky and John Payne, daughter Suzanne Ostrander, grandchildren Samantha and Boris Nedic and Bryan Payne, and many people who looked up to him as a role model.
He was preceded in death by his parents Esther and Bill, his sister Sandy, his brother Sidney, and his dear friend and father figure Ben Cecil.
Wayne was born in Idaho and grew up in a small town near Puyallup, Washington. After a short but memorable stint working as a gandy-dancer with the railroad, he joined the US Army and served his country as a paratrooper in post-war Korea. He was proud to be a veteran and always stopped to thank fellow veterans for their service. After his military service, Wayne worked at Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant for 30 years. He was loyal to Ford and the United Auto Workers.
In retirement, Wayne and Judy moved to Shepherdsville, where he enjoyed wood-turning and giving loved ones wooden bowls, platters, pens, and ornaments that he had made. He also enjoyed maintaining his yard (including chasing, and occasionally killing, the moles who threatened to destroy it), growing vegetables in his garden, camping and fishing at Barren Lake, taking trips with his union friends, and eating dinners with his family at Texas Roadhouse. Wayne was an avid storyteller and often entertained family and friends with tales of his adventures big and small. He had a warm and easy laugh and enjoyed playing pranks with those he loved.
While stationed at Fort Campbell, Wayne met a good-hearted Kentucky girl named Judy, who was the love of his life; they were married for 62 years. He was a kind and caring husband, father, and grandfather. He loved his family deeply and was deeply loved in return.
Wayne loved his neighbors and his community. He was a member of Aurora Lodge in Louisville and of Cedar Grove Methodist Church in Shepherdsville.
Visitation will be held at Maraman Billings Funeral Home in Shepherdsville on Tuesday, March 7, from 3-8 pm and on Wednesday, March 8, from 9-11 am. A Masonic service will be held on Tuesday at 6 pm.
The funeral will be at Maraman Billings Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 8, at 11 am, with burial at Cedar Grove Cemetery.
In accordance with Wayne’s wishes, the family asks that you share, either publicly or privately, how Wayne’s life touched yours and that you continue his legacy of kindness and caring. If you wish to honor his legacy further, a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Home of the Innocents would be greatly appreciated.
The family wishes to thank the kind staff of Audubon Hospital and Hosparus for their compassionate care.
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