Edward John Otto

Edward John “Chapman” Otto, 71, passed away on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, with his loving wife by his side after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born on March 22, 1951, in Stambaugh, son of the late Ervin and Frances (Kapusta) Otto. He grew up in Bates Township, attended the Bates School and graduated from West Iron County High School in 1969. In 1973, he married the former Karen Ehlinger at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Iron River. The couple had two daughters. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. He was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church. John had a very entrepreneurial spirit that led him to many different business adventures that he also considered hobbies. He worked as a logger in the local area in his younger years, and also traveled to Montana, Northern California, Idaho and Alaska where he worked in logging camps. His love of horses led to the establishment of a horse and carriage business, Carli and Cassidy’s Carriage Rides, named after his beloved granddaughters. He built many log cabins in the area throughout the years and also enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping. He spent many happy hours with his yellow labs, Josh and Jake. John was jokingly known around town as “The Maytag Repairman” because he bought so many old Maytag wringer washing machines and sold them to the Amish with whom he made many lasting friendships. He was most recently employed by the City of Iron River for 17 years, retiring in 2013, after his diagnosis. He is survived by his wife, Karen; mother-in-law, Lillian Tschury of Iron River; daughters, Wendy (Mark) Shimun of Iron River and Jessica (Todd) Shamion of Crystal Falls; grandchildren, Cassidy Otto-Dove (Logan Bell) of Nashville, TN, Carli Shamion of Green Bay, WI, Riley John Shimun of Iron River, Kaitlin (Kurt) Lehmann of Crystal Falls, Elizabeth (Travis) Fittante of Crystal Falls; great-granddaughter, Carsyn Lehmann of Crystal Falls; and brother Dennis Otto of Iron River. He was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws, Merlyn “Popeye” and Donna Ehlinger. Private services will be held. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Edward John Otto, please visit our flower store.