B155267 Rifleman John Kenneth Ostrom was born in Sudbury, Ontario, on 9 May 1920. The son of John Burleigh Ostrom and Annie Rhoda Davidson-Curry, he had one brother LAC Jimmy Ostrom. At age 18 he left high school, and was a member of the United Church of Canada. He enjoyed skating and skiing.

Ostrom worked various jobs before enlisting, including: a furniture store clerk, a butcher shop clerk, and a truck driver for a hardware store.

On 2 October 1941, Ostrom enlisted with the Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury Regiment and trained in North Bay, Camp Borden, Camp Niagara and Nanaimo, BC. In April 1942, he injured his knee during training and spent time in and out of military hospitals until 10 March 1943. On 1 August 1942, he was appointed Acting Lance Corporal, on 19 November to Acting Corporal, and on 1 May 1943 to Corporal. From 12 July 1943 to January 1944, he was on special duty in Kiska, Alaska, which had previously been occupied by the Japanese army.

Ostrom was transferred to the 1st Canadian Fusiliers (Active Army) on 15 June 1944 and disembarked in the United Kingdom on 2 June 1944. He arrived in France on 30 July, was posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles on 14 August, and reverted to Rifleman at his own request. He served with them through France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.

Rifleman Ostrom died of wounds in Germany on 1 March 1945, aged 24. He is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference XXIV. D. 1. His family had the following engraved on his marker:

“BECAUSE I LIVE
YE SHALL LIVE ALSO”
ST. JOHN XIV.19
LOVED ONES REMEMBER ALWAYS