Otto, Arlin W. (1925-2011)

OTTO, HINTZ, RICE, BURKE, GROVES, WALKER, MCDOUGAL, BONAR

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 6/25/2011 at 16:29:28

Arlin W. Otto
June 14, 1925 - June 16, 2011
Storm Lake, Iowa

Arlin W. Otto, age 86, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died Thursday, June 16, 2011, at Methodist Manor Retirement Community.

Arlin Wayne Otto, oldest child of Herbert and Eda Hintz Otto, was born at home in the Hanover Community of Alta, Iowa, on June 14, 1925. Arlin was baptized on June 21, 1925, at the Hanover Lutheran Church, rural Alta, Iowa, and he was later confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Storm Lake on June 23, 1940. He attended school all twelve years at Hayes Consolidated School, graduating in 1943.

Arlin joined the United Sates Navy on October 15, 1943, and was honorably discharged on April 11, 1946. During his Navy service, he trained at Farragut, Idaho, Norman, Oklahoma, Groton, Connecticut, and then at the Salomone, Maryland, Submarine Base. He also served on the USS Clythie in Perth, Australia.

On August 3, 1947, Arlin married Marjorie Inez Rice at St. John's Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. To this union were born Sandra Kay, Larry Lee, Edward Jon, Janiece Marie, and Kelly Wayne.

Arlin and Marjorie farmed until 1958 when Arlin began working at Olsen Welding in Storm Lake. While there, he created many rails including the railings at the Presbyterian Church in Storm Lake. From Olsen Welding, he went to Merrill Manufacturing in Storm Lake where he worked for thirty years. For twenty-five of those years, he served as Shop Foreman until poor health forced him to retire.

Well known for his beautiful oak creations, Arlin attended many craft sales with Marjorie. Oak was by far his favorite wood. On his sixty-third birthday, he hand carved a duck while sitting on his front step. Arlin’s good friend, Wayne Beeson, convinced him to carve ducks as an avocation since he did so well. Arlin donated several of his ducks to Ducks Unlimited. He and Wayne shared many hours talking and doing carvings together.

From 1998 until his death, he had several bouts of bad health, but he was still able to function. A stroke in January 2000 took its toll, and he got worse the last four months of his life.

Arlin is survived by his loving wife of sixty-three years, Marjorie; his children: Sandra (John) Burke, of Fairfax, Missouri, Larry (Dawn) Otto, of Birmingham, Alabama, Edward (Brenda) Otto, of Cherokee, Iowa, Janiece Otto, of Storm Lake, Iowa, and Kelly Otto, of Davenport, Iowa; his grandchildren: Michelle (Chris) Groves, of Wentzville, Missouri, Jeffrey Burke, of Fairfax, Missouri, Amanda (Jason) Walker, of Skidmore, Missouri, Shane (Beth) Otto, of Birmingham, Alabama, Nikel (Chad) McDougal, of San Antonio, Texas, Daniel Otto, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Molly Otto, of Birmingham, Alabama, Erin Otto, of Denver, Colorado, and Tyson (Mikaela) Otto, of Lincoln, Nebraska; his great-grandchildren: Gabrielle, Paxton, and Elliott Groves, of Wentzville, Missouri, Owen and Kyndall McDougal San Antonio, Texas, Madalyn and Izabella Walker, of Skidmore, Missouri, and Spencer and Virginia Otto, of Birmingham, Alabama; his sister, Darlene (Howard) Bonar, of Anchorage, Alaska; his brother, Marvin Otto, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota; his brothers-in-law: Bob (Dorothy) Rice, of Denison, Iowa, Dick (Monica) Rice, and Tom (Doris) Rice, of Storm Lake, Iowa, and Ed (Loa) Rice, of Alta, Iowa; as well as other extended family and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Eda Otto; his parents-in-law: Everett and Flora Rice; and his sister-in-law, Frances Otto.

Visitation: 2:00-8:00 p.m. June 20, 2011, at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. June 21, 2011, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Interment: June 21, 2011, at the Storm Lake Cemetery in Storm Lake, Iowa.

Copyright © 2011, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home

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