Marvin Wilmar Louis Ostberg, 88, of Skillman died on Monday, November 18, 2024 at home with his loving wife by his side. Two weeks earlier he had received initial copies of his book, Waking Up Old: A Life Lived Reasonably Well. Born in Slayton, Minnesota, he grew up in Nebraska. After graduating from Wakefield High School in 1955, he joined the United States Navy and traveled with the 7th Fleet to the Far East. Returning to Nebraska, he earned his BA degree at Wayne State. He married Nancy Whitford, taught high school English, earned his MS in sociology at the University of Kentucky, and taught sociology at Northwestern State University in Louisiana. He was an employment counselor for 23 years for the State of Oregon. He retired in 1988 and lived in New Jersey for over 25 years.
After many years as a single father for his two daughters, he and Pat married in 1999. When Pat became Marv’s wife, she also became the mother-in-love of two daughters as well as grandmother-in-love of his two lovely granddaughters. Marv and Pat have traveled all over the world, separately and together. Marv’s hobbies were reading history, lively discussions of current events, and shooting pool. He was a board member of the Princeton YWCA and, as “Mr. Marvin,” enjoyed 20 years of reading to toddlers at the Y. He was also a member of the Princeton United Methodist Church and the church’s Tiffany Window Tour Team.
Son of the late Wilmar R. and Louise (Konold) Ostberg Kahler, father of the late Carolyn Chun, brother of the late Roger Ostberg and Lyle Kahler, he is survived by his wife of 25 years Patricia (Warren) Ostberg, a daughter Jill Ostberg, son-in-law Jonathan Chun, and two granddaughters, Emily Chun and Hannah Chun He will surely be missed by family and friends, and will be remembered with love and gratitude.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at the Princeton United Methodist Church, 7 Vandeventer Avenue, Princeton. In Marvin’s memory donations may be given to Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders, or an organization of choice.