Otto Suchsland

Otto was born in Jena, Germany on June 18, 1928 along with his twin brother Karl. Otto and Karl shared everything together including attending university and getting married in a dual ceremony. His parents were Richard and Anneliese (ne Rath) Suchsland. He married Hildegard Pagels in Hamburg, Germany on August 1, 1956. His grammar schooling was in Jena and it was there that he and his brother performed their military service. Following the war, higher education opportunities were scarce in Germany but he and Karl were able to attend and graduate the University of Hamburg with their degrees in Wood Technology in 1952 and received their Ph.D.'s there in 1956.

Otto accepted a position as technical director with Armin Elmendorf in Chicago in 1956. It was Elmendorf who invented Orientated Strand Board (OSB). Not long after Otto began work in Chicago, Elmendorf moved his company to Palo Alto California and Otto moved with him. Otto returned to Germany and married Hildegard and they settled in California. In 1957 while working in California Otto received an offer to teach at Michigan State University and he accepted. He and Hildegard moved to East Lansing, Michigan and Otto had a long and distinguished career as an educator at Michigan State rising to full Professor in 1968. Otto retired from Michigan State in 1995 and became Professor Emeritus.

Otto had many hobbies and interests. He was extremely well read and could talk knowledgeably about many subjects especially the Greek classics. He was especially fond of hiking, sailing, photography and woodworking. For someone who was not born in the United States he had a remarkable passion for baseball and would almost never turn down an opportunity to watch a game in person.

For many years Otto and Hildegard spent their winters in Siesta Key, Florida - a place they loved very much. Nothing pleased them more than to receive visitors to share their enjoyment of the area.

Otto is survived by his remaining brother Ulrich Suchsland of Hamburg Germany, his son Erik Suchsland of Simpsonville, South Carolina, his daughter Helga Bidwell of Colorado Springs, Colorado, his grandson Karl of Essex Junction, Vermont and his grandson Ian Bidwell of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was predeceased by his wife Hildegard in 2020 and his brother Karl in 1966.

A memorial service for Otto will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 2:00pm at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home located 1730 East Grand River Avenue, East Lansing, Michigan.

Otto will be buried with his beloved "Hilli" at Mount Hope Cemetery in Okemos Michigan.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Suchsland family.