Herbert Dominicus Otto, age 89, of St. Anthony, passed away on Thursday, November 27, 2014, at his daughter's home in Monroe City. He was born in St. Anthony on April 2, 1925, son of the late Hieronymus and Anna (Schepers) Otto. On May 31, 1951, in St. Thomas, Herbert married Rosemary Theresa Lackman, who preceded him in death on August 2, 2008. Together they raised fourteen children – three boys and eleven girls.

He served in the United States Army during WWII from May 20, 1944 until his honorable discharge on April 19, 1946. Herbert was a Fourth Degree Knight with 66 years as a member of the Knights of Columbus and St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.

Throughout his life, Herbert worked the family farm, raising crops and at one point running a dairy operation for several years. Herbert took great pride in 2009 when the land was given special status for being a century-old farm.

Other jobs Herbert held were as a bus driver and custodian for St. Raphael's in St. Louis, MO, a feed truck driver for Schell Trading Co., a roofer at Missouri Builders, a window installer for Roark and Runge, a groundskeeper at Kirkwood Lodge, an installer for Enloe Aluminum, and a well driller for Cotton Tweehaus.

His family remembers Herbert, or Herbie, as they sometimes fondly called him, most for his penchant to tell stories. He reminisced frequently, after Rosemary died, about how they met while they were both working at St. Mary's Hospital in Jefferson City, MO. Some of his other popular stories hailed from his time as a young man in the service. Herbert was a Technical Sergeant during the war and those memories were as sharp for him decades later as they likely originally were. Herbert's recall of detail was extraordinary.

You didn't have to be around him for very long, before he'd talk about one of his favorite topics, mules. Herbert grew up around and raised several mules throughout his nearly ninety years and he spoke often of the mule teams the family had when he was a child. When the new bridge went in on Highway 17 over the Osage River near Tuscumbia, MO in 2010, Herbert talked about the first bridge that spanned that waterway. He remembered that the original structure was a swinging bridge and that he'd crossed it with his father on a wagon pulled by mules. It sounded like quite the adventure, because as he described it, the bridge was swinging at a pretty good clip.

Traveling with Herbert was always a bit of a trip down memory lane. He would tell you who lived where and recite the history of their relationship to him. And without fail, he would tip his cap when he passed by one of the Catholic churches in the various small towns. A pride of Herbert's, which he shared with others, was his talent for baking tasty homemade bread. It was always a nice present to receive one of those loaves fresh out of the oven.

In the last few months of his life, Herbert spent time with his youngest daughter Monica and her family in Monroe City, MO. Monica's son, two-year-old Jacob Dominicus Lloyd, and Herbert became fast friends and one of the last gifts Herbie purchased was a cowboy hat for Jake. Jake is awfully fond of that hat. To date, however, none of the 21 grandchildren have seemed to be as taken with mules as their grandfather, but the genetic code is strong. There is always hope.

He is survived by three sons, Mark A. Otto (Carol) of St. Anthony, Thomas E. Otto (Ruth) of St. Anthony, and Arthur C. Otto (Jean) of Osage Bend; ten daughters, Patricia A. Otto of Washington, D.C., Marilyn N. Hedges (Chris) of Kansas City, Dolores R. Otto of Kansas City, Linda M. King (Bill) of Nacogdoches, Texas, Agnes A. Otto of Kansas City, Theresa A. Otto of Kansas City, Clare M. Otto of Kansas City, Elaine M. Deeken (Leon) of Koeltztown, Joann O. Bittel (Matt) of Kansas City, and Monica A. Lloyd (Luke) of Monroe City; 21 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren with one on the way; and one son-in-law, Mike Moeller

He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Donna Moeller; five brothers, Clemens Otto, George Otto, Norbert Otto, Edward Otto, and Alphonse Otto; and one sister, Emma Otto.


Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 1, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in St. Anthony. Rev. Joby P. Thomas will officiate. Interment with military honors will be in St. Anthony Cemetery.


Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., with a rosary at 6:40 and a prayer service at 7 p.m., on Sunday, November 30, at St. Anthony Parish Hall in St. Anthony.


In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be made to St. Anthony Cemetery.