We are here today to honor the life of Henry Frank Osters. Hank (as he preferred to be called) was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 31, 1926. He was the second of 4 children born to Polish immigrants John and Helen Ostrowski. He had an older sister, Millie, and 2 younger brothers, Stanley and Eddie. Here he began his lifelong love of music, becoming proficient on the saxophone, teaching himself to play completely by ear and in his teens began a playing career that lasted nearly his entire life. He served in the Navy during World War II, stationed in the Pacific aboard the USS Richland, a  floating drydock on which he was an Electrician’s Mate, 2nd class. After being honorably discharged, he attended college at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, ultimately graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

While in college, one day he saw a girl walking down a street and boldly went up to her and said “Hey chicken, can I walk you home?” That girl, Betty, would soon become his wife, as they were married on June 9, 1950. After graduation, Hank went to work for Reliance Electric Company, and after two years they began their family with their son, Jim. Hank was soon transferred to Livonia, Michigan where they welcomed Nancy, Janet, and Bob into their family. As the kids were growing up, he did many fun things for and with them. He would put up a 4-foot pool in the backyard during the summers, take it down and store it in the garage for the winter, and build an ice skating rink in the place where the pool had been, standing outside at night flooding the area with water so that it would freeze evenly. In later years he even built a wooden deck around the pool to make it easier to get in and out.

In 1969 he took a job with General Electric which required him to move the family to the Chicago area, where they settled in Arlington Heights. It was there that their youngest son Rick was born.

The best word I can use to describe Dad is “faithful.” He was a faithful husband. He was a faithful father. But most of all, he was faithful to his God. He was raised a Catholic, and raised his children as Catholics. One day, while driving to a job with his polka band, he heard Chuck Swindoll on the radio, and realized that he could have a personal relationship with Jesus, which he realized he had never had. During that drive, in his car, he prayed to receive Christ and was born again.

He started attending BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), found a new church, and attended a weekly Men’s Bible Study breakfast. He even began to learn how to go out door-to-door evangelizing, which was completely out of character for him.

He started a typesetting and graphics business where almost all of the family worked at one time or another. After his retirement, Dad and Mom moved into an addition to Jim & Jenny’s house, custom-built especially for them by Nancy’s husband, Gary. However, in 2005 Dad suffered a major stroke, from which he never fully recovered.

But his faithfulness to his God remained. Limited though he was, his interest was still in godly things. He watched preachers on his iPad. He attended church in the early days of his stroke, although it was not so easy anymore. And amazingly, although the stroke had taken away much of his ability to talk, he was able to say – without error – the prayers he had memorized growing up, and he continued to pray them till the day of his death, although it got harder and harder as the years went on.

One of the blessings the stroke provided was that, all of a sudden, he laughed – a lot. He was a happy man in spite of his infirmities. And his emotions showed in his face, always. When he was happy – or happy to see you – his eyes would sparkle and a smile would appear that lit up the room. He frequently said “I LOVE you” to people. He was, in the midst of his setbacks, a joy to be around - MOST of the time. He was also still strong-willed, intelligent and resourceful, and often found ways to do what he was not supposed to. He would refuse things he did not want – and with a vehemence and strength that I think astounded us all at times.

After the stroke, through all the hospitalizations, rehab, etc., we frequently heard from caregivers, nurses and rehab workers how much they loved him. He seemed to have a sweet spirit that was apparent to others, even though he could barely speak. Of course, Mom’s presence at those facilities probably contributed to that reaction as well.

Dad loved his God first. He loved his children completely. But he loved Mom best. He loved her with “all his love, all his life” and I believe he never stopped, even ten years after her passing. It’s comforting to know that Dad and Mom are finally having a joyous reunion in heaven!

Dad made our home what every home is supposed to be, what God intended it to be. I think we all just took it for granted that all families were like ours. But they weren’t, and the more we came to know that, the more grateful we were to our parents. Together they created a lasting legacy of 5 children, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren who love the Lord. What an awesome thing!

Thanks, Dad, for all you did and all you were. We – your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren -- will never forget you, and take much comfort in the fact that someday we WILL see you again.

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