Katharine “Kathy” J. Otto, age 67, of Gaylord passed away at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
Funeral service was held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gaylord at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 19. Pastor Scott Richards officiated. The organist was Curt Kahle.
Special music was provided by the Jenn Bostic CD, “Jealous Of The Angels”
Congregational hymns were “Children Of The Heavenly Father,” “Peace Like A River” and “The Old Rugged Cross.”
Casket bearers were Charles Anderson, Clint Wibstad, Davis Wibstad, Bill Magers, Myron Schwarzrock, and Robert Schulz.
Katharine “Kathy” Jane (Lehrke) Otto was born to Sigmund & Lorna (Schroeder) Lehrke in Moltke Township on Oct. 9, 1948. Kathy was baptized as an infant on Oct. 17, 1948, and was later confirmed in her faith as a youth on April 15, 1962, both at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Moltke Township. She received her education at St. Peter’s Lutheran School and Gibbon High School before moving from her parent’s farm after her dad’s passing to Gaylord in 1965. Kathy graduated from the Gaylord High School in 1966, which was where she first met her husband, Bill.
 On June 14, 1969, Kathy was united in marriage to William “Bill” Otto at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gaylord. After their marriage, Kathy and Bill resided in Gaylord. Kathy and Bill shared 47 years of marriage and their union was blessed with one son, Ryan, who passed away in a tragic accident in 1987 when he was only five years old.
Kathy was employed at Wiman, first in the office during high school and later in the factory; Tonka Toys, doing daycare in her home; and for the last 28 plus years in her own house cleaning business.
 Kathy was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gaylord, and enjoyed cooking for various fundraisers and church functions.
Kathy enjoyed working and getting to know her clients as friends and having coffee with other friends. She also loved fishing, cooking for family get-togethers and spending time baking cookies and doing other fun things with her neighbor’s children, who she had “adopted” as her grandkids.
  Kathy is survived by husband, Bill Otto of Gaylord; sister, Norma (Dan) Henning  of Glencoe; sisters-in-law, Dianne (Dennis) Vinkemeier  of Gaylord, and Debbie (Monte) Wood of Victoria; brothers-in-law, Orville Krueger of Glencoe, and Duane Otto of Mankato; aunt, Renata Dahl of Watertown; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Kathy was preceded in death by her son, Ryan Otto; parents, Sigmund and Lorna Lehrke; sister, Esther Krueger;  grandparents; aunts; and uncles.
Arrangements by Egesdal Funeral Home in Gaylord. Online obituaries and guest book available at www.hantge.com. Please click on obituaries and guest book