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NIU remembers Heinz Osterle

May 13, 2015

Photo of the flag of GermanyHeinz Osterle, professor emeritus of German foreign languages and literatures at NIU, died Monday, May 4. He was 82.

“Heinz was a well-liked teacher and a special mentor to everybody in German, always very supportive,” said Katharina Barbe, chair of the NIU Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures. “He and his wife Dale were also very active in the community and university.”

Born in Ulm, Germany, Osterle attended the universities of Tubingen, Frieburg and Munich, where he received a Master of Arts degree. After a successful Fulbright fellowship at Brown University, he earned his Ph.D. there in German literature.

He began his teaching career at the George Washington University in 1960. He taught at New York and Yale universities before coming to NIU in 1972.

In his 38-year academic career, he edited and co-authored four books, presented 25 papers at professional meetings, published 29 peer-reviewed articles and 37 critiques and book reviews, and supervised many doctoral candidates.

Osterle is survived by his wife of 55 years, two of their three children, six grandchildren, and one of his two brothers (Germany) and their children.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Beverage Family Funeral Home, 104 Terry St., Sandwich.