Bill Oesterle, former Purdue trustee and Angie's List founder, dies at 57

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. − Bill Oesterle, co-founder and former CEO of Angie's List and former Purdue trustee, has died at age 57.

According to to Inside Indiana Business' website, Oesterle died at home early Wednesday from complications of amytrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

"ALS is a degenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing the gradual loss of muscle control over time, eventually causing the loss of abilities including walking and speech," the Inside Indiana Business website said.

In addition to co-founding Angie's List, Oesterle was also closed with former Governor and Purdue President Mitch Daniels, of whom he encouraged to run for governor. Oesterle managed Daniels' first gubernatorial campaign in 2004, according to the article.

Oesterle also founded TMap, which advises the Work From Purdue program, and whose MakeMyMove platform helps attract work forces to the West Lafayette Purdue campus.

“His loss is going to be deeply, deeply felt by a lot of people,” said Mark Lubbers, who worked as an aide to then-governor Robert Orr and hired Oesterle for a job in the administration in 1987, in the release.

According to MakeMyMove CEO Mike Rutz, Oesterle was still actively involved in MakeMyMove.

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“He is one of the most persistent people I’ve ever met. He does not give up on anything,”Rutz told IBJ earlier this month. “I don’t think there’s a problem he doesn’t believe there’s a solution to.”

Oesterle is survived by his wife, Kristi, six children and three grandchildren. A celebration of his life is being planned for a later date, according to the IBJ.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: The former Purdue trustee and co-founder of Angie's List has died