On August 2, 2005, Paul Ostler, age 15, was fatally struck by lightning
while lying on his bunk at Camp Steiner in the Uintah Mountains.
Paul was an Eagle Scout in Troop 56. He was a member of the Wasatch
Ward of the Hillside Stake. He was just about to begin his sophomore
year at East High School.
Paul had an eternal outlook on life. He lived each day with an honest
heart. We have lost an incredible person but we can never lose the
gift of love he left with us.
Paul was a friend to all who knew him. He loved to say funny
things, make goofy faces, make silly gestures-he wanted to make
people laugh. In all things, Paul was a teacher and a mentor.
He never passed up a moment or opportunity to share some talent
or skill that would benefit another. During his life, many people
looked up to Paul. He was a good role model. Paul knew what he
should do and he did it. Paul also loved to tease! He especially
loved to tease girls. Paul cared very deeply for people.
Paul loved to make Lego creations! He had a huge storage bin
filled to the very top with Lego's. Paul would pour the entire
box out on the living room floor and create wild buildings, machines,
and vehicles. Paul could be found working with his Legos and having
conversations with the Lego people…the scary part was when the
Lego people answered him!
Not only was Paul creative with Legos, he was creative in his
interactions with others. He loved to mimic the latest movie.
He sounded exactly like Napoleon Dynamite. He would watch a movie
and leave the theater quoting obscure events in the movie that
went over most viewers' heads…especially his mother's!
It was evident early in Paul's' life that he loved books. Paul
loved to read a variety of books from an early age. Of course,
this fact thrilled his mother. Their favorite pastime was reading
book after book. Did Paul have favorites? Yes, every book was
his favorite. His early favorites were "Go Doggie Go"…better known
as "Go, Goggie, Go" and "The Napping House" and "King Bidgood's
in the Bathtub." Paul also loved Sammy Keyes, The Boxcar Children,
and Lemony Snicket books just to name a few. Paul liked to talk
to his friends and his cousins about the books he was reading.
Paul loved the challenge of having reading races with his mom.
Paul ALWAYS won the race and then he would off on another reading
adventure. His passion for reading rapidly progressed and no one
was surprised when he finished his second reading of the newest
Harry Potter before most people even had their book! Paul would
often be found with a little light on in the bookroom so he could
read far into the night without his mom finding out! Paul loved
every book, he especially enjoyed reading ahead of the class assignments.
After all, he needed to finish this book as he had other books
to read!
Your friends and family miss you, Paul. If Paul could talk to
us, he would want us to be happy, to help other people laugh,
he would want us to take time to play. Paul never took life too
seriously; he truly laughed often and loved deeply. Paul loved
his family and friends with a generous and full heart. Our memories
of Paul are kept close to our hearts, but we can let the light
of Paul's life shine through us as we work to make a difference
in our world…one book, one story at a time.
"In my heart there'll always be a place for you, for all my life.
I'll keep a part of you with me, and everywhere I am there you'll
be" ~Faith Hill |
