Parcourez la nécrologie de Billy Dennis Otto Friday March 29th 2024 résidant dans la province Ontario pour le détail des funérailles
Billy Dennis Otto
It is with heavy hearts, that the family of Billy Dennis Otto announces the death of our
dear father and grandfather on Good Friday, March 29, 2024, after a long and very
fulfilling life. Dad turned 97 in January.
He was born in Winnipeg on January 8, 1927 to parents Carl (Charlie) and Mary Otto.
Dad met Ruth, the love of his life, through mutual family friends and they were married
on January 26, 1952 after which they relocated to Port Arthur due to Dad’s employment
with the CN Railway. In 1956, with help from Poppy (Ruth’s father) and Uncle Don, the
family home at 84 Ray Blvd was built. Here, Mom and Dad lived for more than 50 years
where they raised two children – William and Janet, welcomed 3 lovely grandchildren:
Susannah, Matthew and Elizabeth, and hosted a multitude of family dinners and
celebrations. Dad and Mom wholeheartedly embraced both Jill (Bill Jr.’s spouse) and
Jim (Janet’s spouse) as their own. Dad loved his family first and foremost and was
supremely proud of all of their accomplishments and, they returned his love a
hundredfold.
Dad began his apprenticeship with the CNR in Winnipeg at 16 years of age. Over the
next ten years, he earned his machinist ticket and transferred to Port Arther where he
began his new career as Assistant Locomotive Foreman. A few years later, he moved
to the Neebing Roundhouse Shop for the duration of his career. He retired in 1982 from
the CNR to accept a job in Winnipeg as an inspector with the Federal Government. He
remained in this position for six years, after which he happily retired to Thunder Bay
where he enjoyed life with Mom, took daily walks in the neighbourhood, travelled and
worked on household and church projects. Best of all, Dad enjoyed precious time with
his grandchildren.
In addition to being the Best Ever Dad and Grandfather, he also was gifted in many
other ways. Dad was a long-time member of St. Paul’s United Church where he
cheerfully and tirelessly contributed both his time and talents to many activities there,
primarily with the Property and Maintenance Committee. Dad believed that, given
enough time and with a little imagination, most mechanical things could be fixed not
replaced! He also served on Telecare and at the Drop-In Centre at the old Lakeland
Hotel for many years.
Dad was a natural, inexhaustible storyteller and often would entertain family and friends
with colourful and fond reminiscences of his childhood in Winnipeg, his boyhood
summers spent on the Otto farm in Gladstone and the Kehler farm in Camper Manitoba,
and his working days with the railroad. Dad affectionately will be remembered especially
for these stories, as well as for his “world renowned” delicious homemade toffee which
he shared with one and all, his good humour and genuine friendliness, his kindness and
generosity of spirit, his gentleness, and, most of all, his unwavering and abiding love
for his family. Dad truly was a good and loving man and we forever are diminished
by his passing.
Dad was predeceased by his loving wife and life partner Ruth, his father Charlie Otto,
his mother Mary “Nan” Doern and her second husband Karl Doern, his parents-in-law
(Roy “Poppy” and Anna Heintz), brothers-in-law Roy, Dave (Pearl) and Ed Heintz,
sisters-in-law Bertie (Charles) Stevens, Martie (Henry) Young, Anne (Don) Howie, and
stepbrother Russell Doern as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Left to celebrate Dad’s life are son William (Jill) Otto, daughter Janet (Jim) Northan,
grand-daughters Susannah (fiancé Scott Welton) Daines and Elizabeth (Geoff
McCarthy) Parsons, grandsons Matthew (Hector Acero) Otto, former son-in-law Neil
Parsons and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins from the Howie, Young, Heintz
and Otto families and special friends Christian Borland, Peter and Brenda Bound and
Tal Morgan.
In particular, our family extends heartfelt thanks to Christian Borland for his unceasing
support and friendship, which enriched Dad’s life inestimably over the last years; to Dr.
Scali for his stalwart care and service to Dad over more than four decades; to Dr.
Shahrour for keeping Dad’s “plumbing” running; and to Dr. Tepper who compassionately
administered care in Dad’s final moments.
As per Dad’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private family memorial service
will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made
to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation – Urology Program.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Simpler Times Cremation Centre, 575 Central
Avenue, Thunder Bay.
Rest in blessed peace, Dad. We love, love, love you. You are missed beyond measure.
Friday March 29th 2024
Décès pour la Ville:Thunder Bay, Province: Ontario
avis deces Billy Dennis Otto Friday March 29th 2024
nécrologie Billy Dennis Otto Friday March 29th 2024
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Billy Dennis Otto Friday March 29th 2024 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.