Donald Bostrom, age 84, of Ham Lake died unexpectedly at his home on April 18, 2016. A memorial service will be held at 4 P.M. on Tuesday, May 10th at Oak Haven Church, 1555 Constance Blvd NE, Ham Lake. A visiting time will be held 1 hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in Isanti Union Cemetery.
Donald Ellsworth Bostrom was born in Athens Township, Isanti County on June 24, 1931, the second of seven children, to Edward and Ruth (Ostrom) Bostrom. He lived on the farm his parents bought from Ruth’s parents and considered the farm a great place to grow up. As a child, he accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. His faith and relationship with Jesus shaped him and defined his life. He attended country school for grades 1-8 and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1949. At age 20, during the Korean War, Don was drafted into the Marines and served as a forward artillery observer, earning a medal for bravery. After his military service, Don took a carpentry course at Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis. He worked as a self-employed custom builder, building new homes and remodeling.
On December 18, 1954, Don married Marian Janet Lodien at South Isanti Baptist Church. To this union, three sons were born. They lived in Cambridge and Fridley, eventually settling in Ham Lake in 1962. Along with five other families, they began the ministry of Ham Lake Baptist Church (now Oak Haven Church) and became charter members when the church was organized in May, 1965. Don was a humble man who lived with integrity and served his church faithfully. At his church, he helped start and lead the Christian Service Brigade program for young boys, taught Junior High and Senior High Sunday School, served as a coach for youth softball, served on several Building Committees, and served multiple terms on the Trustee Board. Don had God-given gifts for carpentry and the ability to fix and maintain mechanical equipment which he generously shared with family members, friends and the congregations of the churches he attended. He built the original Ham Lake Baptist Church, and the first addition. He also remodeled his boyhood church, South Isanti Baptist. Before retiring, he built a house for each of his sons. He and his wife were former owners of the Mel O Lane Café, later known as the Red Ox Café, in Ham Lake. They enjoyed traveling and spending time with family. Don loved the outdoors, and many of his favorite days were spent hunting, fishing, and camping with family and friends.
Neil and his family felt privileged to live next door to his parents and lovingly helped them, especially in their later years.
Don went home to be with the Lord on Monday, April 18, 2016, at his house in Ham Lake at the age of 84 years, 9 months and 25 days. He passed away unexpectedly with family by his side.Don was preceded in death by Marian, his loving wife of 58 years; his parents; his brother John and wife Beverly; his brother-in-law, John Larson; other relatives.
Don is survived by his sons, Brent (Julie) of Bloomington, Illinois, Randall (Deborah) of Mora, and Neil (Kerry) of Ham Lake; 11 grandchildren, Jared (Ally), Kent (Leah), Justin (Blair), Krista, Erik, Katelyn, Mark (fiancée, Jessica), Matthew, Austin, Derek (Bekah), and Karissa (fiancé, Mike Robinson); seven great-grandchildren, Taylor, Jace, Haley, Kaycee, Croix, Kennedy, and Keegan; brothers, Kenneth (Harriet), Paul (Janet), and Roger (Joan); sisters, Mary Ann (Harold) Johnson, and Dorothy “Liz” Larson; sisters-in-law, Jean (Charles) Creacy of Dublin, Calif., and Carol (Les) Reusser of Fort Worth, Texas; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Memorials suggested to Oak Haven Church, 1555 Constance Blvd. NE, Ham Lake MN 55304 or Children’s Shelter of Cebu, PO Box 247, Cambridge MN 55008.