A second-generation native of Colorado, John Ostermiller was born in Sterling in 1942, and grew up in Brush and Longmont. He received his BS Degree in Business from Colorado State University in 1965, and his MBA Degree from the University of Denver in 1970. John moved to Littleton in 1967, married Littleton resident Terry Mitchell in 1969, and moved to the Leawood area just west of Littleton. While in Leawood, John helped form the Leawood Metro Recreation and Park District and was elected to the first Board of Directors in 1976, and served as Secretary for two years. In 1978, John and Terry, along with their two daughters, returned to Littleton where they have resided for the past 40 years.

John’s business career began as a staff accountant with Great Western Sugar Company in 1965. Since then he has held the positions of Financial Planner for Great Western United Corporation; Finance Manager of Company Operations and Regional Manager of Shakey’s Incorporated; Regional Manager for Cablecom General, Inc; Vice President of Northern Operations for Capital Cities Cable and Vice President of Operations for Jones Spacelink. In 1990, John, and Peter Dart, formed Dart International, Inc., and developed the Dart Target System, an interactive archery and firearm simulator. In 1998, Firearms Training Systems of Atlanta, GA acquired the company. John joined Littleton based Deane Communications, Inc. in 2000, where he served as Vice President and CFO until his retirement in 2006. In 2008 he became the Business Administrator for Littleton United Methodist Church.

As a resident of Littleton, John has been an active member of the community. He served 20 years on the City of Littleton Planning Commission before being appointed to the Littleton City Council in 2000, filling the vacancy created when Susan Beckman was elected Arapahoe County Commissioner. John was elected to a four-year term on the Council in November 2001 and was elected Mayor following the 2003 Council election. In 2005 he was re-elected to his City Council seat, completing his term in 2009 and choosing not to run for re-election. In December of 2009 John was appointed to the South Suburban Park and Recreation District Board to fill a vacancy on the Board. In May of 2010 John was elected to a four-year term on the South Suburban Board, and was elected Chairman in 2012. Other community services include Littleton Public Schools Transportation Committee; Goddard Middle School Management Council; Littleton Leadership Retreat, Littleton Public Schools 21st Century Task Force and Facilities Use Task Force, Arapahoe County Judicial Facilities Housing Authority Board of Commissioners in April 2012. He is a member of Littleton Rotary Club, Historic Littleton Inc., Friends of the Library/Museum, Hudson Gardens and Littleton United Methodist Church.

John’s wife, Terry, is a retired teacher and instructional coach having served in the Littleton School District for 29 years. John and Terry have two grown daughters – Karen, who lives in Billings, Montana with her husband, two sons and a daughter and Heather, living in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with her husband and their daughter and two sons.