James Dean Ostrowski

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 12th, 1935, James Dean Ostrowski at the age of 86 passed away peacefully in his home of Yreka on February 1st, 2022 with his loving family by his side. At the age of 9, James and his mother hitch hiked to California where they settled in Long Beach. While growing up in Southern California he met his best friend, Sam Hewitt. Together they developed a passion for motorcycles which stuck with him for the remainder of his life. After graduating from Bellflower High School, James held several different jobs as a gas station attendant, foreman of a cabinet shop, and worked at Shell Oil. At the age of 19, he met the love is his life, Sally Rae Sites. He stole her heart when he did a burn out with her on the back of his Triumph through Sally's parents garden. James then enlisted into the national guard at the age of 22. After 6 months active duty in the Army, he served out the remainder of his 6-year military career with the National Guard at the rank of staff sergeant. During this time, James and Sally were married and moved into their first apartment in Long Beach. In 1962, James and Sally had their first daughter, Dawn. They then bought their first home in Santa Ana in February of 1965 and had their second daughter, Lynn, one week later. While living in Santa Ana, James owned a string of shoe repair stores while Sally was a school teacher. At the age of 40, he developed a passion for skiing and became a ski instructor 3 years later. He taught at Snow Valley for a number years. While on a road trip to visit his best friend Sam, who lived in Yreka, James and Sally fell in love with the area and started looking for property they could retire to. In 1980, James and Sally found their slice of heaven on 13 acres just outside Yreka. James sold his shoe repair stores and moved to Yreka and started building their dream home while Sally stayed with their daughters and continued to teach. Working all by himself, and many books later, James finally finished their home 3 years later. Sally then joined him and got a job as a teacher in Grenada. James opened a shoe repair store in town and also started teaching skiing in Mount Shasta, where he eventually became the assistant ski directer. While at the age of 62, he started snowboarding and eventually taught that too. James technically retired at the age of 65 but gave his last lesson at the age of 82. After moving to Yreka, James wanted to get involved with the community so he joined the Masonic Lodge. He held every position within the lodge and met many of his great friends. He also served as a mentor to many lodge brothers. James never slowed down. He was always moving. When he wasn't working on his property, you could find him fishing, shooting, riding motorcycles/horses, bowling, traveling with his best friends, and spending time with his family. More than any of these passions or places, James loved his family above all. He enjoyed spending summers with his grandchildren. He loved being a father but loved being a grandfather just as much. Many people know James as a very caring and compassionate man. They also know him as the biggest story teller of them all. He loved telling jokes and stories of his life experiences. And even if he told you before, he was going to tell you again and it was still funny! His delivery was bar none. James will be laid to rest at the Etna cemetery on February 12th at noon. He is survived by his wife Sally, two daughters, and five grandchildren. Written by his loving grandsons, Jake and James Dean Peterson and life-long friends Gene and Lee Wilkins.

James Dean Ostrowski

June 12, 1935 - February 1, 2022