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Elizabeth Jane Oostendorp

Elizabeth Jane Oostendorp of River Falls, WI passed away on November 9th, 2015.

Born in Dayton, Ohio in 1932 she grew up as the only child of William S. Kidd and Myrle Kidd. She attended Colonel White High School and took classes at the Dayton Art Institute as a child which lead to a lifelong love of the arts.

Liz attended Ohio University where she earned her BA in Theater Arts and later she continued her education at the University of Iowa where she earned her Master’s degree in Theater as well.

Liz moved to River Falls in 1958 with her husband John where they raised their family. She started teaching in Ellsworth, WI and was an Art teacher there for 9 years before she moved on to what is now UW – River Falls where she taught Theater Arts until she became one of two people that formed the Publications Department for the University. For 25 years she was head of the department and was involved extensively with the design and printing of all published materials for UW – River Falls. She was also the NCAA representative for University for many years.

Liz was the first Technical Director and Set Designer for St. Croix Valley Summer Theater. She was very active in the community and was involved with the River Falls Chamber of Commerce, the River Falls Area Hospital board and the River Falls Economic Development Corporation. She was an EMT and the first female member of the River Falls Volunteer Ambulance crew.

Liz loved her adopted home town, UW – River Falls and the Great State of Wisconsin. She was an avid sports fan, rooting for the home town Falcons, Wisconsin Badgers and the Green Bay Packers.

After she retired she spent a great deal of time working at the River Falls Golf Course in the pro shop and helped run tournaments. Liz loved golf and played until she couldn’t anymore and watched whenever she could. She was a member of several bridge clubs and enjoyed the company of her many friends over a good game.

Liz will be missed by her many friends and especially her family. She was preceded in death by her son Colin Michael, her husband John and her mother and father.

She is survived by her son William, daughters Susan and Alison, grandchildren John, Hodge, Colin and Elizabeth, great granddaughter Emma and great grandson Colin Jr.

A memorial gathering in her honor will be held on May 7th, 2016 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM at Cashman-Hill Funeral Home in River Falls. Her family invites all her friends to come and celebrate her life and share their many memories of her.