William G. Ottenbacher

Aberdeen - William G. Ottenbacher, 81, of Aberdeen, passed away Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004, at the Bethesda Home of Aberdeen. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, at Zion Lutheran Church, Aberdeen. Pastor Gaylen Sylvester will be officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens with military rites by the Sidney L. Smith American Legion Post #24 of Aberdeen. Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, Aberdeen is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, at the mortuary and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. William G. Ottenbacher was born Feb. 22, 1922, to Wilhelm and Christina (Heiser) Ottenbacher at Eureka, S.D. He attended Campbell County country schools and graduated from Eureka High School. He also attended one year of Business College before entering the US Navy in December of 1943. He served aboard the USS Jackson during WWII. He received his honorable discharge in June of 1945. William married Bernice Aman October 10, 1948, at Hosmer, S.D. They farmed in the Eureka area for eight years. In 1957, they moved to Aberdeen. Together they bought a grocery store which they owned and operated for a short time. In 1959, Bill started working for the Aberdeen City Water Plant. He was employed with the water plant for twenty-eight years and was the supervisor at the time of his retirement in 1987. Bernice passed away in July of 1999 and William has continued to make Aberdeen his home. William enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He loved to take them fishing and taking them on tours of the water plant. William is survived by one son Dean (Jeanne) Ottenbacher of Aberdeen, one daughter, Patricia (Eric) Lake of Titusville, Fla., one brother, Alvin Ottenbacher of Aberdeen, one sister Helen (Robert) Mettler of Eureka, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. William was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, six brothers and two sisters. Pallbearers will be Trevor Ottenbacher, Darin Kucker, Ethan Palluck, Steven Ottenbacher, Gordon Ottenbacher and Gary Ottenbacher.