Charles Gerald Otto
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Charles Gerald Otto passed away March 13, 2021 at home in Henderson, Nev. He was born April 19, 1981, Easter Sunday, at Renville County Hospital in Olivia, Minn. He was the first child of Gerald and Debra (Mathison) Otto.
He was baptized May 3, 1981 at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar, Minn. and was later confirmed there. He loved participating in Civil Air Patrol as a teenager. He earned an open water diver certification in 1996. He earned his solo wings Aug. 23, 1997. He was awarded the CAP Billy Mitchell Award in 1998. He graduated from Willmar Senior High School in June 1999.
He married Melanie Langston on Feb. 2, 2013 in St. George, Utah and they have two children, Andrew Charles Otto and Emma Samantha Otto.
There was never a husband and father more dedicated to his family than Charles. His greatest joy was playing with and caring for his children, and they absolutely adored him.
He loved camping, driving side-by-sides and riding bicycles with his family.
In November 1999 Charles joined the United States Navy. He served on the USS Leyte Gulf and the USS Bunker Hill as a Cryptological Technician.
He earned two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, a Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Battle Efficiency "E" Ribbons, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, an Iraqi Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Charles E. "Chuck" Yeagar Aerospace Education Achievement Award. He was honorably discharged in November 2005.
He received a Rolf Institute of Structural Integration Rolfing Certification, then a bachelor's degree in law enforcement and recreation, parks and leisure services from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
He worked at Yellowstone National Park, Great Basin National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and attended the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center four times.
At Lake Mead he was an instructor in use of force, firearms, and the Motorboat Operator Instructor Certification Course. He was also a Field Training Officer/Ranger. His favorite aspects of his job were boating and firefighting. His co-workers looked up to him as a talented ranger and mentor.
He is survived by his wife and children, Melanie, Andrew and Emma; parents, Gerald and Debra (Mathison) Otto; sister, Bethany Otto and her children Ryder and Leiden; half-sisters, Julie (Larry) Knott, JeanMarie Nordlund, and Jennifer (Chad) Sandstrom; grandfather Marcel Mathison; as well as in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents Lois Mathison and William and Evangeline Otto.
Funeral services will be Monday, March 22 at 1 p.m. at the LDS Church Building at 801 Arrowhead Trail, Henderson, Nev. 89002. There will be a visitation from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the same location. Online condolences can be sent to www.sumortuary.com.