Bernfried Hubertus “Bernie” Otte, 1930 – 2011

OTTE, TILCH, RYS, DENSON, SCHULTE, TRUMPOLD, DRAYFAHL, ZIMMERMAN, HURST, BENDER, DICKMAN

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 4/15/2011 at 16:18:54

Funeral services for Bernfried H. “Bernie” Otte, 80, were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Norway. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family Feb. 14, 2011, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids.

The Rev. Brian Dellaert officiated at the service.

Burial followed Mass at Lenox Cemetery north of Amana.

A memorial fund has been established.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Bernfried Hubertus Otte was born Aug. 21, 1930, in Moschen, Germany, the son of Max and Charlotte Tilch Otte. He and Marianne Rys, Erding, Germany, were married for 39 years. He came to the United States in April of 1954.

He worked at Robinson Wholesale, Cedar Rapids; the Ox Yoke Inn, Amana, and was administrator of Colonial Manor, Middle Amana, for 25 years.

He was an accomplished gunsmith and operated Otte’s Gun Shop, Amana. Hobbies he enjoyed included hunting, fishing and watching professional wrestling.

His family graciously thanks Dr. Martin Weisenfeld and staff at Oncology Associates for their sincere care in treating him the past 10 years and to the staff of Hospice of Mercy.

Otte is survived by his children and their spouses, Jutta W. and Morrie Denson, Marengo; Renate M. and Harold Schulte, Amana; Margaret E. and Lynn Trumpold, Middle Amana; Peter B. and Kim Otte, Cedar Falls, and Robert L. and Denise Otte, Marengo; grandchildren and their spouses, Leah Denson, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Jill and Joshua Drayfahl, Wapello; Staff Sgt. Robert Denson, serving in Germany; Erica and Mark Zimmerman, Cedar Rapids; William, Jeffrey and Emilie Trumpold, Middle Amana; Eric Otte, Iowa City; Mark and Kathryn Otte and Victoria Hurst, Cedar Falls, and Madison Otte, Marengo; great-grandchildren, Robert and Cecilia Drayfahl, Wapello; numerous nieces and nephews; his large, tuxedo cat, Boots; one brother, Dieter Otte, Markesan, Wis., and brothers-in-law, Ray Bender and Verlin Dickman and wife Mary Jo, Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Marianne, March 20, 1993; two sisters, Jutta Bender and Sigrid Dickman, and one son-in-law, Neil Denson.

The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, Williamsburg, Iowa, 24 Feb 2011