Thomas George Otto passed away on November 29, 2022, at the age of 74 surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest.
Tom was born on November 4, 1948, and grew up on his family’s farm in Carroll, Iowa. He was the eighth of nine children born to George and Otilia (Bluml) Otto. Tom loved growing up with his large family and all the adventures that resulted in being the sidekick of his brothers, Gary and Randy. The three of them could fill a room with stories and laughter.
Tom completed his bachelor’s degree at St. Benedict's College in Atchinson, Kansas. With three weeks left of his college career, he met the love of his life, Susan Dierks Otto. With Susie by his side, Tom had a long career in the freight business. The pride he showed for his wife of 51 years and his three children, Thomas James Otto, Matthew Ryan Otto and Amy Dierks LaPlant as well as his six grandchildren who knew him as Poppy, was unquestionable.
If you ever needed to find Tom, you would find him reading a civil war history book, on the golf course or by the t.v. watching a sporting event. He once said that sports were only worth watching “if there was a bet on it”. He prided himself on being an elite athlete, and often called himself “Hoops Otto” on the basketball court, “Slopes Otto” on the ski slopes, and “Fins Otto” when swimming with his grandchildren Abbey, Max, Sam, Katie, Emerson, and Elliott. Tom was dedicated to staying healthy, and routinely walked three miles a day followed by playing 18 holes of golf into his late 60s. He was full of one-liners that family and friends still remember and recite regularly. Tom was also a big fan of fast food fine dining, a love that he passed down to his grandson Sam, although Sam often couldn’t keep up with Poppy in this regard.
Tom was preceded in death by both of his parents; sisters, Judith, Marilyn and Lois and brothers, Jack and Gary. He is survived by his wife, Susie; son, Thomas James Otto (Whitney) of Seattle, WA and Matthew Ryan Otto (Tobey) of Fort Wayne, IN; daughter, Amy Dierks LaPlant (Steve) of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren, Abbey (Amy), Max (Matt), Sam (Amy), Katie (Matt), Emerson (James), and Elliott (James); sister, Kathy (“Sis”) Landgraf of Storm Lake, IA; two brothers, Clair Otto of Carroll, IA and Randy Otto of Parkville, MO.
As Tom would always say, “It’s time to go, Susie, these kids are tired.”
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 10th at the St James Catholic Church on 309 South Stewart Road in Liberty, Missouri. The visitation will begin at 10:00 am followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Seton Center, the City Union Mission, St Jude's Hospital, or Benedictine College.
