Obituary of Hans Herbert Otto

HANS HERBERT GERHARD OTTO, 92, of East Thompson, CT passed away on Sunday, November 10 after a lengthy illness in the presence of his loving family. A long-time resident of East Thompson, he was born in Koeslin, Pomerania, Germany in 1932 to the late Robert and Hedwig(Kowalczek) Otto. He attended trade school in Germany learning the art of cabinet making. In 1956 he emigrated to the US and stayed with his sister. Shortly after he arrived he was drafted by the US Army. He did basic training in Texas and was deployed to Germany! He served as translator for the Army . After completing his service he returned to Connecticut. In October 1960 he married Olga Roller and bought a house in Avon, Connecticut. They have three children: Richard, Robert, and Barbara. Eventually they moved to East Thompson. An avid learner, he took courses at Quinebaug Valley Community College and correspondence courses from Bell and Howell. He worked several places as a cabinet maker and retired. After retirement Hans and Olga traveled a lot. They made many friends in their travels. As health issues took over they had to stop traveling and rest instead. His family and friends were very important to him. Some of his joys were: hiking in the woods, reading, singing/whistling in his home shop making some furniture for Olga or one of his kids or a friend. He also loved animals of all kinds, really all of nature. Hans leaves his wife of 64 years, Olga; and his children- Richard,Robert(Anne) and Barbara (daughter Rosie) and nieces and nephews and their families in the US, niece and grandnieces in Canada, and nieces and nephews and their families in Germany . He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Hedwig, his 10 siblings and their spouses- Herbert(Anni), Elfriede(Albert), Irmgard(Kalle), Elisabeth(Paul), Anni (Willy), Klaere (Paul), Karl (Wanda), Kurt, Kaethe, and Ilse and a few nieces and nephews. Arrangements are private. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to St. Jude's.donate by phone at 800-805-5856 or at donors@stjude.org.