Obituary
Eugene Andrew Oster was born in Beulah, North
Dakota, in 1932, the third of six children - two sisters and three brothers. At
the age of nine, his family moved west, eventually settling in Olympia, Washington.
It was there that Gene came of age, confirmed in his Lutheran faith tradition
on March 30, 1947, and graduating from W.W. Miller High School in Olympia in
1949.
A lifelong learner and builder, Gene went on to
earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from St. Martin’s
College in 1954. In April of 1956, he joined the U.S. Department of the
Interior Geological Survey, where he would serve with integrity and diligence
for over three decades, retiring on August 1, 1987. From 1957 -1960 lived in La Grand and worked
with the Department of Public Roads. In
1960 Gene signed up for a position in Alaska.
He purchased a 1958 Rambler Station wagon and drove the Alaskan Highway
to his new job. In 1961 he was
transferred to Eugene Oregon where he did field work measuring stream
flow. In 1964 he was transferred to the
Portland office of the Geological Survey where he worked until he retired.
Though Gene lived as a bachelor through his early
adulthood, everything changed on June 1, 1982, when he married Ruth Wenzel.
Gene met Ruth at a faith-based retreat, when he, carrying his guitar, noticed
an attractive woman carrying her violin case. Connection was found over the
love of music. Ruth moved from Southern California to Oregon to join him in the
A-frame cabin he had lovingly built on wooded acreage - an enduring symbol of
Gene’s love of the forest. At the age of 50, Gene stepped with grace into some
very-tall boots. In one 30-minute
ceremony he became husband, stepfather, grandfather, violin luthier and dog
owner. He became a steady and generous presence in the lives of his
stepchildren, Christy VanAlstine and Dave Wenzel, and their families. Over
time, he would be known simply as “Grandpa Gene” to eight grandchildren and
eight great-grandchildren.
Gene's quiet strength and support were constant.
For example, when Dave moved his growing family to Portland in 1985, Gene
generously offered his A-frame cabin as a soft landing for his family. When,
after a four-year stint on the east coast, they returned to Portland in 1994,
Gene and Ruth helped in every way possible—offering childcare, assistance, and
their warm presence. For the next 30 years, Gene rarely missed a birthday,
holiday, or family gathering. His faithfulness extended beyond family, as he
traveled with Ruth to visit her brother Herman in the east and participated in
the rhythms of extended family life with humility and joy.
A man of deep Christian faith, Gene was a lifelong
member of the Lutheran Church and served as an elder for many years at Grace Lutheran
Church in Scappoose Oregon. He was a devoted follower of Jesus, and his life
reflected quiet conviction and steady kindness. His love for music brought joy
to others—he played guitar with skill and sensitivity, often repairing old
guitars and violins, carefully restoring them with patient craftsmanship.
Gene will be remembered for his gentle spirit, his
steadfast love of family, and his unwavering faith. He was a devoted husband, a
beloved reliable stepfather and grandfather, a man who loved literature and
stories of faith, and a friend who always had time to listen. His gentle spirit was most evident in his
love for their dogs. He enjoyed feeding
and caring for them. A note in Gene’s
journal mentions burying their dog Bilbo “with tears in my eyes.” At family gatherings his dry witty sense of
humor and his ability to recite poems read years ago will be especially missed.
Gene loved gardening, raising sweet meat squash,
carrots and blueberries. One fruitful year he and Ruth got 30 quarts of
blueberries. Ruth recalls a sunflower
plant taller than Gene.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, by his
older brothers Gerald Oster and Darwin Oster, and his older sister Lorraine
Cooper. Gene is survived by his wife
Ruth Oster, his stepchildren Christy (husband Tim) Vanalstine, and Dave (wife
Hollis) Wenzel, his brother Milton Oster, his sister Yvonne Braune, eight nieces and nephews, eight grandchildren and eight
great-grandchildren.
His was a life well-lived, marked by humility,
service, and quiet strength. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.