Allen E. Ost

Allen E. Ost, 70, of Stillwater MN, died in hospice on May 26, 2023 after a brief and brave battle with cancer.

Allen was born to Elmer and Gladys Ost and raised in Parkers Prairie on a dairy farm. He graduated in 1971 and went to the University of Minnesota where he earned degrees in Forestry and Mechanical Engineering. 

Growing up on a dairy farm, Allen learned early about hard work and perseverance. After high school, Allen spent his summers building silos.  This was back-breaking work that necessitated 2 hip replacements in later years, but he always looked back on his silo days fondly. After college, Allen worked and lived in Iowa, Atlanta, and Sweden, but ultimately returned to the Twin Cities. In 1990, he began working for Crown Iron Works and he continued to work there until his recent illness. Allen was the International Director of Technical Sales for Crown, a global company that is a leader in the design and manufacture of oil-seed processing equipment.

While at Crown, Allen realized some of the most profound successes in his life. He rose to the top in his industry, made close friends around the globe, was responsible for many innovations in his field, traveled around the world, and loved his job. They say that your work shouldn’t define your life, but Allen’s work definitely defined his. He was proud of the things he accomplished. The friendships he established while at Crown were a source of great happiness.

Although his work defined Allen, it wasn’t the most important thing in his life. That honor went to Mar and Remy, his family.  Allen and Mar met on a blind date in 1989. They married in Maine in 2004. Throughout their 30+ years together, they had many great adventures; camping on Mt Rainier, trips to Sweden, snorkeling in the Bahamas, antiquing in Maine and Vermont, and swimming in the ocean in North Carolina.  Allen and Mar have had an antique business since 1991, selling out of a shop in Cannon Falls, MN. Their love of antiquing provided an excuse to travel to New England on buying trips. They loved selling at local flea markets and recently expanded to selling at craft and art shows, where Mar sold imported kitchen linens and Allen sold his handcrafted furniture. Allen spent many hours building benches and tables, and got so excited when people purchased his furniture and appreciated his craftsmanship.

In 2009, Allen’s greatest accomplishment, Remington, was born.  Remy gets all his good qualities from his dad. He’s extremely smart, passionate about math and science, compassionate, caring and with a thick head of hair, just like his dad.

Allen’s hobbies and interests were varied. He loved any outdoor project, most recently planting an apple orchard. He made a mile-long hiking trail on the outskirts of his property. He loved tracing the Ost family history, visiting cemeteries with Remy to record family history. He and Remy loved fishing, bowling, hiking, snowshoeing and anything that allowed them to spend time together. Allen loved going to the Boundary Waters with his friends and repairing buildings on the family farm in Parkers Prairie. He brewed beer and enjoyed sharing it with friends and family. Allen was fiercely proud of his hometown of Parkers Prairie, and delighted in planning class reunions with his classmate Grace. Allen could build anything and fix anything and often had to be coaxed inside to take a break.

Allen is survived by wife Marcella, son Remington, sister Debra (Steve Olsen), brother Gary (Yvonne), Katherine (Milton) Ost, Jeff and Elaine Opacich, Steve Opacich, Tom Opacich, Marilee and Dennis Fearing, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Gladys and his brother Milton.

A funeral will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater at 11:00am with visitation one hour prior.  A lunch will immediately follow the service.

A service will also be held in Parkers Prairie on Friday, June 16 at Immanuel Lutheran at 11:00am with visitation one hour prior. A lunch and burial will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Parkers Prairie Dollars for Scholars https://parkersprairie.dollarsforscholars.org/index.php?section=chapterWebsite&action=donate&fwID=945