Phillip Frederick Ostwald

Phillip F. Ostwald

Oct. 21, 1931 – June 9, 2026

Phillip Frederick Ostwald, an unusually devoted and faithful father, husband and longtime professor at the University of Colorado, passed peacefully June 9, 2026, in Fort Collins with family members at his side.

He was 94 years old and lived most of his life in Boulder before relocating to Fort Collins with his late wife Doris after they lost their home of 52 years in the 2021 Marshall Fire. Phillip and Doris were married for more than 67 years and inseparable in the final years of their lives until Doris’ passing in 2025.

Phillip was born Oct. 21, 1931, in Omaha, Nebraska, the youngest of Natalie (Maier) and Johann Ostwald’s seven children. His parents were Germans who had immigrated to the U.S. from Russia with his three oldest siblings.

Phillip delivered newspapers on his bicycle as a child and attended the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of the Air Force ROTC while earning his bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering. He was a lieutenant in the Air Force upon his graduation.

He met Doris at the Lutheran Chapel at the University of Nebraska, and the couple moved several times over the next dozen years. Phillip earned his master’s degree at Ohio State University and Ph.D. at Oklahoma State University before becoming a professor of mechanical engineering at CU in 1966.

Phillip enjoyed teaching tremendously, doing so for 35 years before retiring. He wrote several textbooks on cost estimating and manufacturing and served on engineering accreditation committees and as a consultant for some of the largest companies in the U.S.

He coached his sons’ Little League baseball teams, enjoyed camping, hiking, international travel and was an avid fly fisherman and fan of his CU Buffaloes. Phillip was also a runner for most of his life, waiting until the age of 66 to enter his first road race, the Bolder Boulder, and then running it every year until he was 80, usually joined by a handful of family members. Phillip and family frequently visited Yellowstone National Park to fish, camp and enjoy nature.

Phillip trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He believed the Christian gospel that Christ was crucified for our sins and resurrected to life the third day, and through the gospel we have eternal life. His strong faith was evident in how he lived, his work ethic and his kindness in interactions with everyone he met, often reminding family members and others that “God is good.”

Phillip and Doris were founding members of Mt. Hope Lutheran Church in Boulder and served the congregation in a variety of ways. Phillip was also active in Gideons International and participated in its Bible distributions.

He was friendly, compassionate and curious, frequently striking up conversations with people he came across in his daily activities to create new connections.

Phillip was preceded in death by his parents and all six of his siblings. He is survived by his sons Mark Ostwald (Amy) of Montesano, Wash.; Phillip Eugene Ostwald (Vicky) of Glenview, Ill.; and Lynne Lyell (Kelly) of Fort Collins; grandchildren Matthew Ostwald and Ben Ostwald (Mikayla) of Chicago; Bethany Ostwald of Union Grove, Wis.; Luke Ostwald (fiancée Paige) of Montesano, Wash.; Andrea Ostwald of Salt Lake City; Clay Lyell (Jenjira) and Patrick Lyell (Linda) of Fort Collins; and great grandchildren Ezekiel and Lilliana Ostwald of Chicago.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 22, at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church, 1345 S. Broadway in Boulder, and live-streamed on the church’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/@mthopeluth. A private burial will follow at Green Mountain Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made in Phillip’s name to Mt. Hope Lutheran Church or Gideon’s International.