Allen George Ostrom

Allen Ostrom (1921-2017) spent 15 post World War II years as a sports reporter for the Seattle Post Intelligencer ( P I ) before changing professions and working for 20 years in the sanitary maintenance business . . . and then 27 more years editing FLAK NEWS, the post WWII newsletter of the 398th Bomb Group in England, where he served as a tail gunner on 35 bombing missions over Germany on a B 17.

In his five military years he earned many service ribbons, including five Air Medals plus the “Chevalier of the Legion of Honor” presented by the French Republic in 2015.

Ostrom was the hockey editor for P-I sports editor Royal Brougham, covering the Seattle Ironmen, Bombers, Totems and American SC. In his younger years ( mid thirties ) he watched the Seattle Seahawks Hockey Club at the Civic Ice Arena (Yes, the Seahawks were a hockey team before they were a football team).

After moving on to the sanitary maintenance business in 1960, he became both a supplier and consultant to Westin Hotels and other hotel properties. For 20 years he assisted in the opening of 37 new hotel properties in the US, Canada and Europe.

He edited the Property Maintenance Reference Guide, distributed to all Westin properties around the world.

Following his “retirement” in 1984, he became Public Relations director for his WWII bomb group association. In addition to editing the newsletter, he wrote a book called “398th Remembrances.” He also organized the group’s annual reunions in various US cities from 1985 to 2006 and led tours “back to the old base” during those years, including visits to Germany, Czech Republic, Holland, Belgium, and France, including two “D-Day” visits.

Prior to his Air Force years, he was in the Washington State National Guard in 1940 and in the Army in 1941 43.

He considered the highlights of his life being married for 60 years to his wife Hedvig ( Geg ) and having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He and his late parents and brother, Carl, came to America from Sweden in 1927 and to Seattle in 1929. Ostrom is grateful for the latter years of friendship with Margaret Brediger, "whom God has given to me as my loving friend."

He is also grateful for his 20 year post war relationship with Queen Elizabeth II of England, having sent her his book and other issues of FLAK NEWS. A typical letter from Buckingham Palace reads: “It was kind of you to tell Her Majesty how much you valued the French award and how much you cherished the correspondence you have had with The Queen when you were editor of FLAK NEWS.” The letter was signed by Susan Hussey, The Queen 's “Lady in Waiting.” Ostrom said that he “wore out” THREE typewriters and THREE word processors in his reporter-editor-sales career, but never entered the world of computers.

He is survived by two daughters, Eileen Brunetti and husband Mario Brunetti of Spanaway, WA and Aleta Ostrom of Edmonds, WA; two granddaughters Monica (Moore) Howard of Graham, WA and Mary Moore of Kent, WA and four great grandchildren.