Allan Lee Osterud

Allan (Al) Osterud passed away on Sunday October 15th, 2023, surrounded by his family.

AI was the son of Kenny and Dorothy Osterud, and was born on September 1, 1942 in Minneapolis, and he grew up in Seattle. Al graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and then received a master's degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. He started working for Northwest Airlines, moving back to Minnesota, until he was drafted in 1967. He served in the army for two years, serving at posts in the US and Germany.  He married Dru Gnagey, whom he'd met at Whitman College, during the break between boot camp and his first posting.

Over the next two decades Al held a number of different positions at Northwest Airlines, which included managing flight attendants, helping to computerize flight schedules, and working in the accounting department as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and a Certified Internal Auditor. After Northwest he then worked in the accounting department of Gage marketing.

Besides his family, Al had two great passions in his life, Marx toy trains and Studebaker cars. He was one of the most knowledgeable people in the world about Marx Toy trains, once telling someone "I could talk for 30 minutes about the color of this screw." He loved sharing his knowledge and teaching people the things that he knew. A simple one line email question could elicit a several page response. Al was a long time member of the Lakes and Pines division of the TCA, and was treasurer and president among other positions.

Al owned a variety of Studebakers over his lifetime, and enjoyed repairing and restoring them.

He is survived by his wife Dru and his sons Dan (Amelia) and Whitney (Katheryn) and his sister Grey.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday November 17th from 4 to 7p.m. at the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum, 668 Transfer Rd, St Paul, Mn 55104.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations can be made in Al's name to the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum.

Arrangements entrusted to SUMMIT Funeral & Cremation

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