Jean (Geraldine) Ostmeyer, 78, formerly of Hutchinson, passed away Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Manhattan, Kansas, with family by her side.

Jean was born on March 17, 1940, in Paola, Kansas, to Elmer and Margaret Colson. She graduated from Spring Hill High School, in Spring Hill, Kansas, in 1958, and from Wichita State University in 1992 with a degree in elementary education with an early childhood emphasis.

She will be remembered by family and the community as a loving mother and compassionate teacher who always gave selflessly. Over the years she played a huge role in shaping the lives of not only her own children, but the hundreds of children she taught, including as a preschool teacher at Holy Cross Catholic School in Hutchinson. She will be remembered by many as "Mrs. O."

Jean was active in the Catholic Church and the community as a volunteer, and served as a Girl Scout leader. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, gardening, sewing, and traveling with her husband and family.

On July 30, 1960, she married Dale Ostmeyer in Paola. They were married 56 years. He preceded her in death in 2016.

Also preceding her in death were her parents; three brothers, Ted, Fred and Daniel Colson; and one sister, Cathy (Colson) Stallbaumer.

Survivors include two sons, Joseph (Paula Shaughnessy), of Denver, Colorado; and Andrew (Beth), of Joplin, Missouri; four daughters, Cheryl (Carl) Ochs, of Hoxie, Kansas; Deb (David) Stonebraker, Shawnee, Kansas; Mary (John) Lonker, Wamego, Kansas; and Diana (Chris) Gassen, of Littleton, Colorado; ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Tom (Diane) Colson of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Visitation will be held from 2-4 p.m. Monday at Hutchinson Funeral Chapel and Crematory. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 6 p.m. Monday at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 29, at Holy Cross Catholic Church with burial to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Cross Catholic School or Homecare and Hospice in Manhattan, in care of the funeral home, 300 E. 30th Ave., Hutchinson, KS 67502