ELSIE OTTO
Funeral services for Elsie Otto, 93, of
Aurelia, will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at the St. Paul
Lutheran Church in Aurelia, with Pastor Larry Lemke officiating. Burial
will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, rural Aurelia. Visitation will be
Monday from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., with the family being present from
6:00 to 8:00, at the Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia.
Elsie died Friday, March 13, 2009, at the
Sunset Knoll Nursing & Rehab Center in Aurelia.
Elsie Caroline Radke was born December 8,
1915, the daughter of Albert H. and Katherine (Fick) Radke in Galva,
Iowa. Elsie graduated from the Galva High School in 1934. On March 25,
1936 Elsie married Wilbert Henry Otto at the St. John Lutheran Church in
Galva. Wilbert and Elsie farmed in the Hanover and Holstein areas before
moving to Aurelia in 1946. They retired into town in 1973. She was a
member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia where she served on
the Ladies Aid and taught Sunday school for many years. She was always
ready to volunteer at church and for other groups in Aurelia; she also
was a member of the Aurelia Friendly Seniors. She enjoyed gardening,
raising flowers, knitting, quilting, playing card, and traveling. She
especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and
great-grandchildren.
Preceding Elsie in death were her parents,
her husband Wilbert on May 10, 1992, one daughter, Myra, in 1942, one
son, Duane, in 1974, one grandson, David Steffens in 1972, one
daughter-in-law, Carolyn Hegland in 2009, one sister, Irene Radke in
1920, and one brother, Virgil Radke in 1963.
Survivors include two daughters, Phyllis and
her husband John Baumann of Aurelia, Eileen and her husband Ron Steffens
of Cumming, GA, three sons, Rev. Rodney and his wife Phyllis Otto of
Grandville, MI, Gary and his wife Alura Otto of Aurelia, and Joel and
his wife Cheryl Otto of Sioux City. Also surviving are 20 grandchildren,
DeAnn Malfero, Jeff Otto, JoDee Otto, Michael Otto, Cynthia and husband
Jeff Kai, Kelley and husband Dan Roberts, Alan Baumann, Christopher and
wife Melissa Otto, Stephen and wife Jennifer Otto, Andrew and wife
Pamela Otto, Jayson and wife Kelly Otto, Aaron and wife Jennifer
Steffens, Matthew Steffens, Rebecca and husband Ryan Hodges, Sarah and
husband Wayne Walter, Erika Otto, Priscilla Otto, Travis Otto, Nicholas
Peck, and Tyler Peck, 30 great-grandchildren, and three
great-great-grandchildren. Four brothers and their wives, Kenneth and
Mary Radke of Galva, Wendell Radke of Oldsmar, FL, Dean and Margaret
Radke of Galva, Lee and Beverly Radke of Holstein, one sisters-in-law,
Elmeree Radke of Holstein, and nieces and nephews and other relatives
and friends.
