DARLENE OTTE

 Darlene Otte, 86, of Kahoka, MO, died March 11, 2019 in the Clark Co. Nursing Home in Kahoka surrounded by loved ones.

Darlene was born November 21, 1932 in Canton, MO, the only child of Ernest “Hawk” and Irene Barnett Jacobs.   She was named Darlene because her father said she was his “little darlin”.

 She graduated from Canton High School and worked the next year as a bookkeeper for Martin’s Chevrolet in Canton. She soon married Chester Otte in 1951 and they were the proud parents of eight children.

   Survivors include her children: Kathy Gerhardt of Matawan, NJ, Bruce (Cindy) Otte of Stuart, FL, Joann (Joe) Brewer of Canton, Pam (Tim) Edkin of Bellefonte, PA, Mary (Rob) Brooks of Alexandria, Ed (Debbie) Otte of Canton, Darin (Pattie) Otte of Troy; daughter-in-law, Shirley Otte of Shelbyville, KY; twenty-two grandchildren: Stephanie (Bill) Matkovich of Wentzville, Sean (Jill) Gerhardt of Buffalo, NY, Jeremy (Megan) of Meriden, CT, Tina (Devin) Hicks of Winter Springs, FL, Jennifer (Jim) Krantz of Oviedo, FL, Danielle (Jason) Scrupps of Ritzville, WA, Beth (Chris) Seeger of Meridian, ID, Caleb (Rebecca) Doyle of Shelbyville, Ky, Tiffany Lapsley of Kahoka, Adam (Mandy) Brewer of Canton, Amy (Shawn) McConnell of Woodbridge, VA, Corrine (Dan) Jackson of Williamsville, NY, Kyle (Agatha) Edkin of Farmington, NY, Makayla and Rachel Brooks of Alexandria, Jesslyn (Andrew) Chamberlin of Billings, MO, Jaclyn (Dennis) Mathes of Marshall, MO, Jaden Bell Otte of Canton, Kayla (Christian) Uthe of Bland, MO, and Kiersten, William and Caiden Otte of Troy; thirty-six great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and other relatives.

 She was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Jeff Otte.

 She was thankful to be able to stay home and raise her children.  She was a wonderful cook, excellent seamstress - making most of her daughter’s clothing including their bridesmaid’s and flower girl’s dresses.  She always put her family’s needs first, serving as a 4H Leader, attending PTA meetings, providing taxi services to many swim classes, music lessons, sports games and her children’s jobs and volunteer work. Anything surrounding her children took a priority in her life.

 At the age of fifty, she received her nursing degree and worked in the health care field as an RN until she retired in the early 2000's.  During this time she also did relief work in Florida after several hurricanes in shelters and emergency facilities.

 Darlene was raised and married in the Canton Baptist Church and following her marriage joined the Catholic Church.  When she returned to Missouri from Florida she attended St. Paul UCC in Kahoka with her daughter Joann and later returned to her roots at First Baptist in Canton with her son Ed and family.  She always held a firm belief and love in the Lord.

  Darlene developed a love for reading early in her life and loved to read mysteries, spy novels and especially Tom Clancy.  The library could not keep enough books in stock for her.  She was also a huge history buff and it was nothing to her to jump in her car and travel to see museums, plantations, antiques, and just to see countryside.   She always made sure to have her movie and regular camera to document everything special in her life.

  In good seasons and off seasons, she loved her St. Louis Cardinals, particularly Yadi.

 In a recent interview, Darlene’s advice to young people was “Don’t get married real young.  Go to school, get a good education and then go out and take the world”.

  Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Canton, MO, with Rev. Brian Stone officiating.  Special music was “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace”.  Participants included Jennifer Krantz, Tiffany Lapsley, Brooke Brewer, Darin Otte, Kathy Gerhardt, Amy McConnell, Jaclyn Mathes, Makayla and Rachel Brooks and Ed otte.

Visitation was held March 19, 2019 at Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka.

Burial was in the Forest Grove Cemetery in Canton

Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.

On-line condolences may be expressed at www.wilsonfuneralservice.com.