My first memory of the Ostrom house and Kay stems back from the late 1980s. My church choir from Soltau/Germany was touring Michigan (it all stems back from a Blue Lake Orchestra visiting us first) and California. I brought my parents along and we happened to be selected to stay with Kay and Gary. Their house (not yet their lake house) was filled with life, openess and laughter. Kay (and also Gary) was the super welcoming host. It was a warm summer night and Carol and I talked at the pool way into the night. The next morning Kay told us, that she could not really sleep because of our talking, but she did not want to interrupt us or send us to bed because she felt this conversation was too precious. How could she know back then that Carol and I started out friendship on that evening and are still friends even though we have the Atlantic Ocean between us and sometimes do not see each other for years?
Later, me and 3 friends from university in Germany drove a car from Vancouver to Toronto and stopped at Alma College to visit Carol and then went on to Muskegon. 4 young smelly persons, 3 strangers in her house (now the lake property)? Not a problem at all. And we left with enough food in our station wagon to get us to the final destination.
With a recommendation from Gary, I then was able to get a scholarship from my Berlin University with one of their associated schools in the US. One of them was WMU in Kalamazoo. So for me it was clear I wanted to go there. Because I knew I would have a real home in Muskegon to which I could escape anytime. Those 9 months were the most intensive for me with the Ostroms. Gary purchased a Forst Escort for me that I was able to sell at a higher price in California vs. what I paid. I spent all holidays with them, went to their church whenever possible and just came for many weekends. Gary and Kay just treated me as their 3rd child. I learned so much from them in those months. Generosity (yes, also financially, but much more opening their parent hearts for me) and kindness. I will never forget how Gary would check my car (oil, air, water etc.) when it was parked and never made a big thing out of it. These unconditional signs of love have shaped how I raised my two children. With respect and trust foremost, but also with lengthy talks and listening to their little and big problems, and with humor - just like Gary and Kay did it with Carol and Kay and then me.
My fondest memories of Kay are what I call our kitchen talks. I would come driving in from Kalamazoo on a Friday and she would be prepping dinner or baking a cake. She wanted to know everything about my classes, my friends, my problems, how my parents where doing, roommates issues, future plans. Back then I did not notice this so much, but later it became clear to me: While we were talking, she always managed to fill in little challenges to my thought process or a piece of advice that would help me with my direction. She (and Gary) shaped me so much in becoming a good human being (at least I try my best). Yes, my parents laid a great foundation, but exposure to family life with the Ostroms and parental guidance from Kay and Gary helped immensely to find my way.
Closing with a little story. Kay and Gary visited me in Germany, flying into Berlin, where I was studying. I had rented a Merceded E-class (Gary paid...) to drive them to my parents house in Soltau and then further on to our choir leader who had moved close to Heidelberg. While I was driving 80-130m/h on the autobahn, Kay was sitting in the back, working her diary and papers and letters, completely ignoring the speed. Even though she probably was terrified, she knew that Gary would enjoy this immensely (he later drove also, but stayed mostly at 80-100m/h) and she trusted me with my driving.
Kay, thank you for being a mother to me. You live on in my heart and my soul. And I see traces of you in my children which makes me really happy.
Gerfried Kroeger from Mutterstadt in Germany