Dan Otting
Daniel J. Otting, 81, of Waukon died Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 4 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Memorials can be made to St. Patrick School, Veterans Memorial Hospital or Good Samaritan Center, all in Waukon.
Daniel Joseph Otting was born August 11, 1935 at his grandmother’s house in Bernard. He was the son of John “Jack” and Melitta (Melloy) Otting. He graduated from St. Patrick’s North Garryowen. Dan was raised on a farm and after high school he ran the farm after his father was injured; it was an experience that stuck with him throughout his life. From 1958-1960, Dan served in the U.S. Army with the 2nd Missile Battalion, 71st Artillery in Taiwan.
May 30, 1960, he married Helen Kramer at Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville. The couple lived in Maquoketa and Peosta before moving to Dubuque. Dan sold tires for Montgomery Ward and Rainbow Tires. In 1970, they moved to Waukon, where Dan owned and operated Culligan Water from 1970-2004. Helen died in 1988. June 16, 1989, Dan married Mary Anne (Zahn) Jones at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon.
He belonged to a variety of organizations, including Toastmasters, the Allamakee Community Players, Lions Club, was on the board for St. Patrick School, and was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. He also served as president for the Chamber of Commerce, the Archdiocese of Dubuque Board of Education, Allamakee Ducks Unlimited and the Iowa Water Quality Association. A member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Dan was a Eucharist minister, lector and sang in the choir.
In his free time, he liked to go hunting, fishing and ATV riding. He also liked playing bridge, golfing and following the Iowa Hawkeyes. Dan loved to read, especially westerns and mystery novels. He loved to cook and was a fantastic chef. Dan and Mary Anne liked taking bus trips to Branson, and he really enjoyed going to Army reunions and spending time with his grandchildren.
Dan is survived by his wife, Mary Anne, of Waukon; his children: Charles (Sandi) Otting of St. Joseph, MO, Pat (Jane) Otting of Waukon, Mary (David) Vass of Germantown, MD, Kathy (Todd) Wenthold of West Union, Dana (Craig) Davis of Newell, Matt (Eve) Otting of Maquoketa and Tom (Tanya) Otting of Center Point; two stepchildren: Gregg (Maura) Jones and Heather (Earl) Zezulka, both of Waukon; 19 grandchildren: Ashley (Kevin) Haar, Katie (David) Zahn, Doug, Marc and Rachel Otting, Molly and Samantha Wenthold, Emma and Jake Davis, Daniel, Caroline, Cate and Vivienne Otting, Drew Otting, Luke, Tori and Adelyn Zezulka, and Dolan and Aidan Jones; a great-granddaughter, Arya Haar; his brother, Bill (Mary) Otting of Fulton, MO; and two sisters, Marna (Bill) Elliott of Carthage, MO and Carol Kroyer of Magdalena, NM. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Helen; his daughter, Beth Otting; and a brother-in-law, Harry Kroyer.
Honorary casketbearers were the S&D Coffee Club, Wednesday Bridge Club and Dr. David Schwartz. Casketbearers were Marc Otting, Luke Zezulka, Dolan and Aidan Jones, Molly Wenthold and Jake Davis.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
