Rev. Mark Gilbert Ostendorf ’71

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00AM Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at the Cathedral of St. Mary in St. Cloud for Reverend Mark Ostendorf, 62, of Elrosa who died Friday, April 3, 2015 at the St. Cloud Hospital. Bishop Donald J. Kettler will preside and burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Freeport on a later date. Visitation will be from 3:30 – 8:30PM on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 and one hour prior to Mass Wednesday all at the Cathedral in St. Cloud. There will be a Vigil service at 7:00PM Tuesday at the Cathedral. Arrangements have been entrusted to Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home, St. Cloud.

Reverend Mark Gilbert Ostendorf was born on February 17, 1953, in Sauk Centre, Minnesota. He was the son of Gilbert and Monica (Lange) Ostendorf. Father Ostendorf attended Sacred Heart Grade School, Freeport, Minnesota, and St. John’s Preparatory School, Collegeville, Minnesota. He received his college education at St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, and his theological studies at The St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. Father Ostendorf was ordained by the Most Reverend George H. Speltz at Sacred Heart Church, Freeport, on June 5, 1981. He celebrated his First Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Freeport, on June 7, 1981.

Father Ostendorf served the following pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Saint Cloud:  associate pastor, Holy Spirit, St. Cloud, 1981-1982; St. Anthony, St. Cloud, 1982-1986; St. Wendelin, Luxemburg, 2011-2014; Holy Cross, Pearl Lake, 2011-2014; Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Rockville, 2011-2014. He also served as pastor St. Margaret, Lake Henry, 1986-1987; Immaculate Conception, Becker, 1989-1999; St. Michael, St. Cloud, 1999-2002; St. Francis de Sales, Belgrade, 2014-2015; St. Donatus, Brooten, 2014-2015; Ss. Peter and Paul, Elrosa, 2014-2015.

In addition, Father Ostendorf also served on the Diocesan Liturgy and Music Commission, 1989-1992; as dean of the Princeton Deanery, 1996-1999; administrator at St. Anthony, St. Anthony, 1988-1989; and as sacramental minister at St. Vincent de Paul, Brooklyn Park, 2002.

He is survived by his siblings, Carol (Sue) of West Allis, WI, Ruth (John) Schofield of St. Cloud, Paula (Clarence) Fussy of Amery, WI, Dan (Joyce) of Inver Grove Heights, Joseph (Beau) of Frisco, TX; nieces and nephews, Jamie (Cheri) Hemker, Ryan (Nichole) Hemker, Julie (Ben) Krippner; great niece and nephews, Tyler, Connor, Nolan, Grace, Caleb; two aunts; and one uncle.  He was preceded in death by his parents.