Walter James Otis, Sr. 85, of Coldwater, passed away Sunday, September 4, 2022 at his home in Coldwater.
A funeral service will be held Friday, September 9, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Shayne Looper officiating at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater.
The family will receive guests for visitation Thursday, September 8, 2022 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
He was born April 3, 1937 to Orville and Virginia (Erts) Otis in Ovid Township, MI. On June 15, 1985 Walter married Sharon L. Denbrock and she survives.
After graduating High School, Walter enlisted and honorably served his country in the United States Navy. He had achieved the rank of 2nd Class Petty Officer and was stationed in Rhode Island.
Walter was a lifelong farmer and had also been employed as a resident care aide with the Coldwater Regional Center. He was a member of the Lockwood Community Church, Michigan Farm Bureau and he was an honorary member of the Lakeland Fire Department. Walter loved his life at the farm where he enjoyed hunting, cutting wood, bee keeping, making maple syrup, and sometimes just walking the property.
When he wasn’t at the farm he found his joy in traveling with his wife Sharon and always looked forward to their cruise trips; but what he loved above all else was his family. Walter will be dearly missed as a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to many.
In addition to his wife Sharon, Walter is survived by his children Sjon (Karilyn) Otis of Coldwater, Teresa (Scott) Moore of Portersville, PA, Walter (Christina) Otis, Jr., Tom (Missy) Sperbeck both of Coldwater; his step children Lynn (Richard) Topping, Tia (Robert) Tobolske both of Quincy, Judi (John) Springhall of Coldwater; his brother Orville Otis of Royersford, PA; many grandchildren and great grandchildren and his loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Marilyn Brunner, Jean Baranouski, and JoAnn Jetmore.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the Lockwood Community Church, Lakeland Fire Department, or the Walter and Sharon Otis Scholarship Fund through the Branch Area Careers Center Agriculture Program.
The first time I met Mr. Otis was to ask him a favor regarding some boulders he had on his property. A neighbor that I thought owned the property directed me to Mr. Otis and led me to believe I would have a hard time dealing with him.
We’ll, After about one hour of very pleasant and very interesting and informative discussion about hunting and farming and his property I finally got around to asking him about the boulders. He smiled and looked up and told me “of course” and that his reasoning was because I obviously respected him enough and “that I asked before taking”.
My subsequent visits were to take homemade cookies to help him with his goal of “gaining some weight”.
I feel blessed to have not taken the neighbors doubting position because it enabled me to meet a truly good person.
RIP Mr. Otis