Br. John Ostdiek, OFM, 102, passed away Oct. 12 at Manitowoc Health and Rehabilitation Nursing Home in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He was the oldest friar in the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the time of his death.   

Born in Lawrence, Nebraska, at home on the family farm, Br. John was the oldest of 10 children. He was inspired to join the Franciscans by his uncle, the late Br. Arthur Rempe, OFM. He was received into the Order of Friars Minor on Aug. 19, 1942, made simple vows on Aug. 20, 1943, professed solemn vows on Aug. 20, 1946, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1949. 

From 1950 to 1953, Br. John earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Quincy College (today Quincy University) in Illinois, and went on to study at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, the following year. He continued his studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from 1954 to 1960, where he earned both a master’s degree and a doctorate in biology. While studying at Catholic University, Br. John also ministered as an assistant chaplain at Walter Reed Medical Center from 1958 to 1960.  

Upon completing his doctorate, Br. John began a long teaching career at Quincy University, rising through the ranks to serve as a full professor of biological sciences. He also served in various administrative positions at the university. After a year-long sabbatical in 1980, he resumed educational ministry at Mundelein College in Chicago, from 1981 to 1983. Br. John then spent the next several years as the director and guardian at the Alverna Retreat House in Indianapolis.  

In 1987, Br. John’s ministry took him to Tennessee, where he served in a research and teaching apostolate at St. Vincent de Paul in Nashville for one year, then as parochial vicar parishes in Memphis: St. Thomas (1988 to 1990), St. Mary Parish (1988 to 1991) and St. Augustine Parish (1990 to 1991). From 1991 to 1993, Br. John was in residence at Alverna Friary in Knoxville. He then served in supply ministry supporting local priests, as well as guardian at St. Maximilian Kolbe Friary in Crowley, Texas, from 1993 to 1997. 

From 1997 to 2002, Br. John served at Our Lady of the Angels Friary in Sherman, Illinois, and then at Our Lady of the Angels at Greccio in Springfield, after it moved to St. Francis Motherhouse in 2001. Br. John ministered as a chaplain at the motherhouse during the same period. From 2003 to 2005, he served at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Ruston, Louisiana, as a senior associate and temporary local minister. He returned to St. Maximilian Kolbe in Crowley to serve in supply ministry and as vicar for the next year.  

As a semi-retired friar, he served in supply ministry at Holy Cross Friary in Quincy, Illinois, from 2006 to 2010. Br. John then served at St. Germain Friary in Dittmer, Missouri, and spent the next year in supply ministry and doing grant writing for the legacy Sacred Heart Province Development Office. From 2010 to 2013, Br. John was once again involved in supply ministry, supporting local priests in the Quincy, Illinois, area, before moving to St. Louis, from 2013 to 2015, where he served as a chaplain for the Poor Clares and, beginning in 2014, engaged in writing ministry. From 2015 to 2017, he was assigned to St. Clare Friary in Alton, Illinois, before returning to Holy Cross Friary in Quincy, where he continued supply and writing ministry and resided until recently.  

Br. John was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Dora (Rempe) Ostdiek, and his siblings Mildred Ostdiek Herz, Sr. Lenore Ostdiek, OSF, and Arthur Ostdiek. He is survived by his siblings Anita Ostdiek Conway, Arnold Ostdiek, Br. Gilbert Ostdiek, OFM, Francis Ostdiek, Jovita Ostdiek Schneider and Clara Lou Ostdiek Bricher, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews and the friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  

Funeral arrangements are pending. May he rest in peace.