YAKIMA – Bert Otto was born in Danvers, IL Jan. 23, 1922. He finished grades 1-8 in 7 years, then went to work to help his family. He worked at a dairy where he and the owner milked 175 cows night & morning. This gave him very strong hands. He worked on the railroad, which gave him a very strong body. He took up boxing and advanced to the Golden Gloves fighting level. Along the way he helped in the construction of grain elevators, homes and apartments.
In 1978 he went to Fort Worth, TX with a construction crew to help build a Don Carter bowling alley. There he met Jeanette and decided to stay in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He worked as a carpenter at Texas Instruments in North Dallas and then the Lewisville plant.
After their marriage in 1982 he and Jeanette moved to Vancouver, WA for Jeanette’s job across the river in Portland, OR.
At the age of 16 he caught his first swarm of bees and took them home in a cardboard box. Thus began his lifelong love of honey bees and beekeeping. He built beehives and raised bees and honey wherever he lived. When they lived in Cd. Juarez, Mexico he helped start a beekeepers association. He and Jeanette loved to travel and they went all over to attend beekeepers conferences, including the international ones in Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, and Vancouver, Canada.
They also traveled for pleasure to such places as Russia (twice), Finland, various European countries, Tahiti, Australia, Kiribati, and Barrow, AK. Everywhere he went he made friends and came home with business cards and addresses to write to people. He collected bee and honey items extensively, including honey from all over the world. He collected honeybee postage stamps and filled a notebook to overflowing. He had stamp collectors as pen pals and exchanged stamps with them by mail.
His day-starter was a trip to the post office where he picked up the mail and visited with the employees. It tickled him when they would say “Hi, Mr. Otto. Come on up (to the counter).” He always said “Not Mr. Otto, just Bert.” Also he loved telling people not to spell his name backwards.
His favorite restaurants were the one where he could tease the waitresses and they would give it right back to him. Some of his sayings were “How come you’re behind; did you start late?” and “How come you’re so busy-is McDonalds closed?” He had a blonde friend and would ask her if she know what day it was. So she and others in the coffee klatch would bring him blonde jokes.
For many years he picked up day old bakery goods and took them to a couple of Sr. centers, where he made lots of friends who shared quips and teasing with him. He’d grin his mischievous grin and his blue eyes would sparkle.
He always had a pocketful of candy to give to little kids.
As to his military service, he served in WWII in Australia and the Philippines. He stayed in the Reserves and was called up for the Korean Conflict. He served a year at the Condon, OR Radar Base where he made many life long friends. When he was discharged he stayed in Oregon and got a job helping build The Dalles Dam. He always said, “I was lucky enough to make two of them, and lucky enough to get out.” His branch of service was the Air Force. He was able to go to the 636th Radar Squadron reunion in Condon in August, and had a great time visiting with everyone.
A couple of years ago Bert & Jeanette found bluegrass music so they joined the WA Old time Fiddlers Assn. They went to many bluegrass festivals and “jams” and had a great time.
Bert was truly unique. He always found ways to have fun and try to make life more enjoyable for others. He slipped the bonds of earth on October 5, 2010 at his home in Yakima, WA. May he now be painless and at peace. BERT LOVED PEOPLE! We loved you, too, Bert.
Memorial services will be conducted Friday, October 22, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. in the Keith & Keith Ninth Avenue Chapel.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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