Eleanor Mae Otto

Eleanor M. Otto, age 97, of Storm Lake, Iowa passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 28, 2016 at Methodist Manor Retirement Community surrounded by her family. Funeral service will be held Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Burial will follow in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. Visitation will take place Wednesday, August 31, 2016 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Eleanor Mae Otto was born to August J. and Neta (Arp) Miller on a farm near Hanover, southwest of Alta, Iowa on January 27, 1919. She was baptized on January 31, 1919. Her father died when Eleanor was only 5 ½ years of age. Later, her mother with four daughters, moved from the farm to Alta where Eleanor attended grade school. In 1930, her mother remarried and the family moved to a farm just west of Storm Lake. Eleanor attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in Storm Lake and was confirmed there on June 4, 1933. Eleanor attended Storm Lake High School and graduated in 1937 with a letter in typing. On June 4, 1941, Eleanor was married to Earl E. Otto. They were blessed with three children: James, Nancy, and Bruce. They lived in Storm Lake for a short time and then moved to a farm north of Alta and resided there for 4 years. In the spring of 1947, Earl and Eleanor built Otto Furniture store on North Lake Avenue in Storm Lake. At this time, there were just a couple of small businesses in that area and the street was just 2 lanes paved. They opened Otto Furniture for business in September, 1947. Earl and Eleanor were active in the business for about 47 years. Eleanor was bookkeeper and occasionally helped in the store after the children grew up. Earl and Eleanor are charter members of Grace Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Eleanor was a long time Sunday School teacher both at St. John’s and Grace Lutheran Churches in Storm Lake. Earl and Eleanor loved to travel and visited all 50 states as well as most of the Canadian providences, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Jamaica, Acapulco, and other places in Mexico. She especially loved her home and family. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a real joy. Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Earl; son, James; granddaughter, Angela Leigh Otto; and sisters: Verna Pretiance of Carroll, Iowa; Evelyn Steward of Seattle, Washington; and Lorraine Erichsen of Hartley, Iowa. Eleanor is survived by her daughter-in-law, Janet Otto of Spirit Lake, Iowa; daughter, Nancy (Craig) Sargent of Story City, Iowa; son, Bruce (Jane) Otto of Storm Lake, Iowa; grandchildren: Julie (David) McAdon, David (Brandi) Otto, Douglas (Jennifer) Otto, Alicia (Tim) Buhr, Jennifer (Marcus) Seaton, Rachel Otto, Marie (Jason) Auch, Rochelle (Brandon) Jerred, and Christina (Jeremy) Monaco and 16 great-grandchildren.

Eleanor Mae Otto

January 27, 1919 - August 28, 2016