Obituary of Michael Reese Osterhoudt

Michael Reese Osterhoudt, of Lincoln Park, died Saturday, December 31, 2022. He was 58.

Born in Paterson, Michael was the eldest child born to Barry Reese Osterhoudt and Mary (nee Porr) Osterhoudt. 

Raised in Butler, he was a 1983 graduate of Butler High School. He later enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving for four years in New London, Connecticut, where he worked on submarines and learned the trade of heating and air conditioning. 

He began his career with the Grand Union supermarket chain in the late 1980s, and would travel around to their many stores to work on their systems. Though his siblings were more than ten years younger than he was, Michael always had a strong relationship with them, and they recall him often bringing them out for rides to his many jobs throughout the area. 

Through a mutual friend, Michael was introduced to Sharon Miller. The two quicky fell in love, and in 1999, they married. Settling first in Fair Lawn, they moved to Lincoln Park in 2003, and there raised a son, Ryan.

Michael's career continued to grow in the HVAC industry. Working for several firms in the area, he had spent the last two decades working with Heritage Refrigeration in Fairfield, a job he greatly enjoyed. 

Michael was a devoted family man. and gave 200% to his son. He loved nothing more than indulging in his son's love of sports, and never complained about driving him to practices, games, and showcases all over the state. For Christmas, he drove to every Dick's Sporting Goods store in the area until he found the perfect pair of batting gloves to gift his son. There was nothing he would not do for Ryan and Sharon, or for his siblings, nieces and nephews, and friends. He was everyone's go-to HVAC guy on hot summer days, and never hesitated to help out. Michael was ready and willing to give the shirt off his back. He was a generous, loving spirit, and he will be dearly missed.

Michael is lovingly survived by his wife, Sharon; his son, Ryan; his siblings, Jennifer Delguercio and her husband Robert, Jason Osterhoudt and his wife Gina, and Mark Osterhoudt and his wife Kirsten; and his nieces and nephews, Christopher, Madelyn, Reese, Makenna, Hunter and Kylie; his mother-in-law, Gladys Miller; and his brother-in-law, John Miller. He was predeceased by his parents, Barry and Mary Osterhoudt. 

Visiting hours will be Wednesday from 4-8 pm at the funeral home. A funeral Mass will be held 12 pm Thursday at St. Joseph's Church, 216 Comly Road, Lincoln Park, NJ. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Kinnelon.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael's memory to the American Heart Association would be greatly appreciated by his family.