CHESTER WM OTTE

By Editor | November 14, 2024

Chester Wm. Otte, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, at his home in Hannibal, MO, on November 7, 2024, at the age of 92. Funeral Services will be at 2:00 PM, Saturday, November 16, 2024, at James O’Donnell Funeral Home in Hannibal, MO. Fr. Greg Meystrik will officiate. Burial will be at Grand View Burial Park in Hannibal, MO. Friends and Family are invited to Chester’s Life Celebration at a visitation that will be from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, Saturday, prior to the services at the funeral home. Chester was born February 9, 1932, in Gregory Landing, MO to Edward Otte and Elsie Ort Otte. Chester was the fifth of six children. Chester was baptized in the Catholic faith and was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Hannibal, MO at the time of his death. Chester married his high school sweetheart, Darlene Jacobs in Canton, MO in 1951, and moved to the family farm in Gregory Landing. Together they welcomed eight children. She preceded him in death. Later in life, he married Helen Wisdom in 1980. She survives. Other survivors include his seven children, Kathy Gerhardt of Lake St. Louis, MO, Bruce Otte (Cindy) of Oviedo, FL, Joann (Joe) Brewer, of Canton, MO, Pam Edkin (Tim) of Bellefonte, PA, Mary Brooks (Rob) of Wayland, MO, Ed Otte (Debbie) of Four Seasons, MO, Darin Otte (Pattie) of Troy, MO; one stepson, Carl Hirner (Elizabeth) of Shackleford Fork, VA; one daughter-in-law, Shirley Otte; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Otte and Mary Ann Otte; 26 grandchildren; 42 great grandchildren; three great – great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. Chester was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Jeff Otte; one stepson, Daniel Budd; five siblings, Irene Smith (Roy), Evelyn Uhlmeyer (John), Dorothy Kirchner (Lester), Junior Otte, Robert Otte; great granddaughter Abigail (Abby) Anne Scrupps and great-great grandson Rhett Joseph Weir. Chester graduated from Canton High School where he participated in band, chorus, basketball, and Future Farmers of America (FFA). From the FFA organization, he developed a love of agriculture and the leadership skills that elevated his ability to make positive impacts in his community, the land, and family. Chester followed in his father’s footsteps and went into farming. Over the years Chester’s sons expanded the farm, and in 2022 the Otte Farm was honored to be recognized a Centennial Farm, being continuously owned by a single family for 100 years or more. For a brief time in the early years Chester, self-taught with an electronic technical course, owned and operated a local TV and Radio repair shop in Canton, MO. The love of farming and spending time with his family drew him back to the farm. While farming Chester found a quality plant food product he believed in and was soon asked to sell and distribute to other local farmers. Chester was very successful and achieved the position of Regional Manager of Sales for Na- Churs Plant Food Company. In 1983 Chester stepped away from Na- Churs, and together with partners started his own quality plant food distribution company, Crop Builder’s Plus. After 30 years in business, Chester retired at 81. Chester was a talented musician; in his younger years he played the saxophone and sang in the high school choir. In his later years, he enjoyed singing at weddings and funerals. He was a member of a barbershop quartet, and most recently at age 91, was given the opportunity to sing a couple of songs at the Admiral Coontz Recreation Center in Hannibal, with the Uptown Strings band. Chester took great pleasure in dancing with his wife Helen, especially the waltz. They were a sight to behold on the dance floor. Over the years, Chester and Helen enjoyed dancing, social gatherings with friends, and gardening together. Their lives were full of love, laughter, and working hand-in-hand together. Chester loved serving his community, he was Governor at the Moose Lodge in Hannibal for three years and President of the Clark County School Board for 10 years. One of his proudest achievements was redistricting the school boundaries to create Clark County R-1. Chester loved his family. He loved hearing stories about all his children and grandchildren’s adventures and achievements. Chester was a man who knew God and loved America, and the land he farmed. He passed down countless life lessons in determination, perseverance, and leadership. He was a skilled craftsman and an innovator, teaching his children “anything can be fixed if you just use your head”. Chester was an incredible man to know and love. He will be missed by so many in this life, but we know he is at peace.

Posted in Obituaries