Loretta "Lori" Leanne Ostmeyer

Lori (Loretta) Socha Schrock Ostmeyer passed away Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the Logan County Manor.

Lori was born on January 8, 1939, in Claflin, KS, in the home of her parents Lydia (Steinle) Socha and Leonard Socha. When she was two her family moved to Wilson, KS where she spent her formative years. For her last two years of high school, she lived in Wilson alone in her parents’ house as they had moved to Salina for her dad’s growing construction business. Lori wanted to stay and finish high school in Wilson, thus began her independent, forthright personality.

Lori graduated from Wilson High School in 1957 where she was involved in all the activities and then chose to go to Ft Hays State for college. Lori achieved her BA degree in education at Ft Hays State in 1961. While at college she met football player, Don Schrock, when he made fun of her shoes in the cafeteria. She was not impressed. Soon after they started dating and after graduating in 1961, they got married. To that union were born three children; Yvette, Ty, and Lee. For several years they moved to small towns in Kansas where Don was a teacher and high school football coach.

In 1975 they moved to Oakley where Lori started her career as the Jr High and High School art teacher. Teaching was her passion and she was amazing at it. Being the art teacher allowed her to get to know students, overhear stories, and she was connected with those students on so many levels. During this time, she got her Masters degree in education from Ft Hays State and also worked with other teachers on their contract negotiations. She had a background as a dancer and cheerleader and so started and grew the Oakley High School drill team called “The Sharpshooters”. This dance team became semi-famous due to the hard work of Lori and talent of her dancers.

During this time Lori and Don parted ways but were great at co-parenting and cheering on their kids from the stands at all the Oakley sporting events.

In 1987 Lori met the love of her life, Weir (John) Ostmeyer. They were married in June 1988 and settled on Weir’s farm outside of Angelus. They were inseparable and had so much fun together becoming master gardeners as well as makers of furniture and art they would sell at markets in Colorado and Kansas.

When Weir passed away in 2003 Lori sold the farm and moved back “to town” where she became very involved in the local Red Hat Society and all the card groups. She loved playing cards and having drinks with friends at the Oakley Country Club and on her back patio.

Lori was spunky, loving, giving, opinionated, and a legend someway or other through all the students and friends who knew her as Ms Schrock or Mrs O.

The last few years of her life were spent enjoying friends, her family, her cats, playing cards and posting on Facebook about her daily life. She was a force of nature and left a lasting legacy.

Survivors include her children Yvette Vreeman (Dave) of Marana, AZ, Ty Schrock (Kate) of Colby, KS; grandchildren, Olivia Vreeman of Chicago, IL, Alexis Schrock of Palm Springs, CA, and Cory Schroeder of Oakley, KS

She was preceded in death by her parents Lydia and Leonard Socha; her brother Duane Socha; and her son Lee Schrock.

A celebration of life will be held at the Oakley Country Club on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. This will be a come and go informal gathering to share stories, have a toast, and talk about a life well lived.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Oakley Public Library as she said that place saved her life after her divorce. Cards with memories or stories to share can be sent to 611 S Center Street, Oakley, KS 67748. For information or to leave online condolences visit baalmannmortuary.com