Clair Otto, 90 of Carroll, died, Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at Addington Place in Carroll.
Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 19, 2023, at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with Fr. Patrick Behm officiating. Lectors will be Tyler Otto, Nicole Hesseltine, and Mitch Fitzsimmons. Casket Bearers will be Abbey Thomas, Taylor Ebinor, Stephen Otto, Jennifer Carlisle, Andy Boshoven, Ryan Boshoven, Justin Boshoven, Megan Starman, Jes Felder, Jake Fitzsimmons, Nick Fitzsimmons, Tommy Fitzsimmons, and Cristine Otto. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion. Following the burial, a luncheon will be served in the Sharp Center.
Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, August 18, 2023 at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Clair's family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Clair was born on January 12, 1933, in Carroll, Iowa, the son of George and Tillie (Bluml) Otto. In his early years he lived on his family farm near Mount Carmel, Iowa. He was the 2nd of eight children and loved growing up on the family farm. Clair met the love of his life (Lou Ann Wolterman) at a dance, and they married in 1954. Soon after getting married, Clair joined the army and off to Germany they went. After a couple of years there, they moved back to the states and settled in Carroll, where they lived the remainder of their lives.
Clair enjoyed playing any card game, especially euchre and poker, he loved to golf, and he loved boating. Spending time with family and friends brought him the most joy. Much of his life he spent as a landlord, buying and selling houses, along with refurbishing houses into apartments. His ideal day was going to work on his houses, coming home for lunch with Lou Ann, taking a nap and then back to work. If there was a card game at night that was a bonus to his day. He always had a smile for his family and friends and looked at life with a “glass half full attitude”. He was a devoted husband and had been married to Lou Ann for 68 years.
Clair is survived by his sister Kathleen Langraf, his brother Randy Otto; his 5 children Joe (Val) Otto, Laura (Mark) Boshoven, Sheryl (Tim) Carlisle, Barb (Jeff) Fitzsimmons and Steve Otto. His 16 grandchildren – Tyler (Amy) Otto, Abbey (John) Thomas, Taylor (Will) Ebinor, Stephen Otto, Nicole (Ryan) Hesseltine, Jennifer Carlisle, Andy (Ashley) Boshoven, Ryan Boshoven, Justin (Amy) Boshoven, Megan (Matt) Starman, Jes (Chris) Felder, Jake Fitzsimmons, Nick (Ashley) Fitzsimmons, Mitch Fitzsimmons, Tommy Fitzsimmons and Cristine Otto; 17 great-grandchildren – Ellie Otto, Rowan Otto, Wayde Thomas, Weston Thomas, Wyatt Thomas, Wynnie Thomas, , Bode Boshoven, Riley Boshoven, Reagan Hesseltine, Collins Hesseltine, Cooper Starman, Noah Starman, Jackson Felder, Ace Felder, Lander Fitzsimmons, Layne Fitzsimmons and Caden Otto.
Clair was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Lou Ann; and his siblings: Marilyn Dunning, Jack Otto, Lois Houlihan, Gary Otto, and Tom Otto.