Obituary of John Norman Ostrom

August 21, 1960 - Prince Rupert, British Columbia

September 29, 2024 - Calgary, Alberta

John Ostrom, beloved husband of Isabel Ostrom, of Calgary, AB, passed away on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at the age of 64 years, following a sudden and hellish battle with brain cancer.

John will be lovingly remembered by his wife Isabel, his three sons, Peter (Jenny), Derek, and Aidan; his grandson Oliver, his parents, Norman and Margret Ostrom, his sister Christina (Bob), and many nieces and nephews.

John was born on August 21, 1960, in Prince Rupert, BC. He attended the University of British Columbia and graduated with a degree in Geology. He worked with his father as a commercial fisherman on the North Coast when he was a teenager but found his vocation as a scientist (as well as his wife-to-be) at UBC. He dedicated over forty years of his professional life to the oil and gas industry in Calgary. John was the epitome of a petroleum geologist; his natural curiosity combined with tenacity, intelligence, and an infectious optimism resulted in the many discoveries he was credited with.

Outside of his career, John enjoyed spending time with his family and pursuing his hobbies, including swimming, cycling, hiking, kayaking, and cross-country skiing. He was proud to complete an Ironman Triathlon on his 50th birthday, swim the English Channel, and do other epic adventures with Isabel. John was also passionate about working on his Datsun roadster, playing chess, reading, researching stocks and current events, and mentoring and helping others wherever and whenever he could. He was a great listener, an epic problem-solver, and could build and fix pretty much anything.

John will be most remembered for his caring, kind, and generous nature. He wore his heart on his sleeve and was most definitely one of the “good guys”. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

A Celebration of John's Life will be held at  Flores & Pine (254028 Bearspaw Rd, Calgary, AB), on Friday, November, 15, 2024, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. His family wants to meet all the people John connected with to share stories and to remember John's life, fully lived, surrounded by the people who cared about him. We know there are many.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Rosedale Hospice, 920 7a St NW, Calgary, AB T2M 3J4, Telephone: 403-284-5195, www.hospicecalgary.ca/support/donations/, in honor of the wonderful care they provided for John and his family, or to the University of Calgary, www.neuroarm.org/connect-support-grow, to help fund the research led by Dr. Garnette Sutherland, the neurologist who operated on John and will be using John’s medical data to help find a treatment for glioblastoma.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with John’s family here.

In living memory of John Ostrom, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.