John Floyd Oosterwyk

On the morning after what may be a turning point in American national affairs, it is best to recall the generosity and grace, the optimism and faith, of John Oosterwyk as we transit this all too short a life. May God bless us all, everyone.

I recall the Oosterwyck family on Waubesa street nearly half a century ago. They were bright, energetic, and a very loving family. They brought hiking and camping equipment into the shoe repair shop where I then worked -- these being tokens of a family united in their activity. Their young daughter told me about their Christianity, which I pocketed as inspiration for a day many years later in my life when I saw the real value in community. I had no contact, and still do not, but recently in...

I learned a great deal about grace and justice, largely by the fine example of John and his entire family, who resided near my workplace on Atwood and Waubesa in the early 1970s. They were a young couple then, often taking their sporting equipment, as well as repairs for the children, to the shoe repair shop where I then worked. They were handsome, as were the children, and they were a model of seeming contentment. This shows in the photo above, looking much as then, only grey, but with a...

Much respect for John, Joan and whole clan over the decades. "Death ends a life, not a relationship." May peace be with you all. Rest in peace, Mr. O! -Mo Hansen (Annie's high school classmate)

Condolences to the family. One of my favorite teachers at Madison Central High School. Although he required me to pay up for the accidentally broken graduated cylinders, I still loved him. Rest In Peace, Mr O!

On a mission trip to Mexico, when we weren't working we would spend a little time playing Euchre. There were often three John's at the table so we had to make a distinction between their names. John O was the elder so he became First John. We had some good laughs and shared some life experiences. He was a good man and I always enjoyed our conversations. To Quote a song "Go rest high on that mountain; Son your work on earth is done" WELL DONE JOHN !

I had Mr. O (as I called him) as my Chemistry teacher. He taught me a lot not only about science, but also about faith and perseverance. He allowed me to vent about things at home, and in some ways, he was seen as my father's stand in conversation wise. Even 50 years later, I can recall our conversations. Mr. O was an excellent teacher, his eyes would glimmer when he spoke of his family, and he made a difference for many. May all the memories you made, bring you peace in the days ahead. He...

Mr. Oosterwyk was my chemistry teacher at LaFollette in the 70s. My class was made up of mostly boys. I was more into biology and ecology than chemistry, but his methods of teaching made it easier for me to learn. He knew that I had great anxiety during every testing phase, thinking I would flunk and bring my grand point average down. When he walked around the room handing back our tests, he turned them over on our desks without saying a word. When he came to my desk, he would say "you did...