Arlin E. Otteman (1918-2008)
OTTEMAN, SIEVERS, NICHOLS, SEYMOUR, BAKER, YOUNKER, DEL RE, LARSON, BAAK, MERNIN
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 2/26/2008 at 17:50:06
THE AMES TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Tuesday, February 26, 2008.
Jan. 29, 1918-Feb. 21, 2008
Arlin E. Otteman, 90, of Lake View and formerly of Sac City, died Thursday, Feb. 21, at home. Funeral services were Monday, Feb. 25, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sac City. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery with a flag presentation by the Sac City American Legion and V.F.W.
Arlin E. Otteman was born Jan. 29, 1918, in rural Albert City, the son of William C. Otteman and Mary K. (Sievers) Otteman. He was baptized, confirmed and married in St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Albert City.
He married Shirley I. Nichols, daughter of Henry and Mabel Nichols, of Sac City, Sept. 28, 1941. To this union were born five children, Karen, Jolene, Larry, Shari and William. In the family are two doctors, one nurse, one kindergarten teacher and an executive with State Farm Insurance.
In September 1938, he came to Sac City to work in both the funeral home and furniture store for A. G. Neal. He graduated from embalming school in 1940 as valedictorian of the class. Neal passed away very suddenly in 1943. He had asked Arlin to join him in the business as a partner beginning in January 1944. Mrs. Neal knew his wishes and helped Charles Farber and Arlin begin Farber and Otteman in October 1943. Farber sold his interest in the furniture store to his son, Paul, and retired from the funeral business in 1964.
Shirley worked side by side with Arlin, living in the funeral home from 1964 until they moved to Arlington Apartments in 1972. She was responsible for rearing the children and answering the telephone and front door. Arlin gave up much family time, but made up for it in the later years.
In 1980, three partners joined the Farber and Otteman Funeral Home organization, namely Ronald Nelson, Roderick Sorensen and J. Richard Seger. There was also one other licensed funeral director, Alan Kruthoff, of Lake View. The furniture business was sold in 1996, and the funeral business was sold to Nathan and Nancy Jensen, of Storm Lake, in 2001. At that time, Farber and Otteman Funeral Home had funeral homes in Sac City, Lake View, Wall Lake, Odebolt, Schaller, Storm Lake and Newell. The licensed men stayed with the firm. Arlin was very dedicated to the funeral business and was actively involved for nearly 70 years, and was perhaps one of the oldest funeral directors in Iowa that continued to participate in the business.
He was a long-time member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sac City. He belonged to the following organizations for 60 years or more: American Legion and Sac City Chamber, and he received recognition from the Iowa Funeral Directors Association for being a member for 60 years.
He is survived by his children, Karen Seymour and husband, Lon, of Holly Springs, N.C., Jolene Baker, of Ames, Dr. Larry Otteman and wife, Carole Ann, of Ames, Shari Otteman, of San Jose, Calif., and Dr. William Otteman and wife, Ann, of Maquoketa; nine grandchildren, Wendi (Steve) Younker and their children, Kaitlin and Kyle, of Mason City, Matthew (Kim) Seymour and their children, Abby and Emma, of Woodstock, Ill., Darren (Yoly) Baker and their son, Indiana, of Homestead, Fla., Dr. Alec (Andrea) Otteman, of Iowa City, Andrea Otteman, of Northridge, Calif., Jeremy Del Re, of San Jose, Calif., Joshua (Maria) Larson, of Philadelphia, Jacob (Amber) Larson and their son, Luke, of Dundee, Mich., and Jason Larson, of Iowa City; several nieces and nephews; and many cousins. He is also survived by his special friend, Bonnie L. Peters, of Lake View; sister, Ranona (Clifford) Baak, of Newell; and sister-in-law, Meda Otteman, of Storm Lake.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Shirley, in 2002; one brother, Delwin; and one sister, Dorthe and her husband Gerald Mernin.
Farber and Otteman Funeral Home in Sac City is in charge of arrangements. View Arlin's online memorial or send condolences at www.farberotteman.com.
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