Doris Ostwald

Doris Ostwald, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Jan. 21, 2025, in Fort Collins, with her husband of 67 years, Phillip Frederick Ostwald, at her side. They had moved to Fort Collins three years earlier after losing their longtime home outside of Boulder in the Marshall Fire.

Doris was born Jan. 19, 1934, on her family's farm outside of Snyder, Nebraska. The doctor arrived by plane, landing in a nearby field. Doris, the only child of Emelia and Eugene Billerbeck, grew up on the farm and began driving at the age of 13 so she could get to school. She was valedictorian of the Class of 1952 at Snyder High School and the only one among 13 in her graduating class to attend college.

She met the love of her life, Phillip, at the Lutheran Chapel at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where they were both students. They became engaged in 1955, the year she graduated, and she took a teaching job in Ohio, where Phillip was completing a master's degree at Ohio State University. The two were married July 1, 1956, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Snyder, the church where Doris had been both baptized and confirmed.

Phillip's career took the couple to Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska; and Stillwater, Oklahoma. Doris and Phillip moved to Boulder in 1966, when Phillip was hired as a professor at the University of Colorado. Doris loved spending time in the mountains and was an avid fan of CU sports, attending football and men's basketball games as a season ticket-holder for more than 45 years. She was in the Buffalo Belles booster group for many years.

She and Phillip were also founding, devoted and longtime members of Mt. Hope Lutheran Church. Doris was active in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League and was often involved in planning and preparing meals for various church events. She also volunteered at Boulder Community Hospital for many years, helping perform hearing tests on newborns.

Doris enjoyed traveling, on work trips with her husband, and just for fun. The couple traveled throughout the U.S and extensively overseas, taking multiple trips throughout Europe, in addition to Israel, China and Russia.

Summers often included family reunions, with Doris and Phillip and their three children and their families gathering for a few days to a week in various locations to tell stories, laugh and strengthen their connections. She was deeply loved by her family.

Doris is survived by her husband, Phillip; children Mark Ostwald (Amy) of Montesano, Washington; Phillip Eugene Ostwald (Vicky) of Glenview, Illinois; and Lynne Lyell (Kelly) of Fort Collins; grandchildren Matthew Ostwald, Bethany Ostwald, Benjamin Ostwald (and wife Mikayla), Luke Ostwald, Andrea Ostwald, Clayton Lyell (and wife Jenjira) and Patrick Lyell (and wife Linda Ivey) and great grandchildren Lilliana Ostwald and Ezekiel Ostwald.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church, 1345 S. Broadway.