OBITUARY: Otto W. Tesch, 1901-1982, Mitchell Co., Iowa

[ Published in St. Ansgar Enterprise - November 4, 1982 ]





Otto W. Tesch
Funeral Held Here
Monday, November 1

Funeral services for Otto W. Tesch, 81 of St. Ansgar, who died Friday,
October 29 at the Mitchell County Memorial hospital, Osage, were held
Monday, November 1 at First Lutheran church here, with the Rev. Joseph
Nesheim officiating.

Otto William Christian Tesch was born August 16, 1901 in Rock township,
Mitchell county, the son of Henry and Augusta (Walk) Tesch. He was third
in a family of 14 children. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's
Lutheran church, Rock township. He attended the rural school near the
family farm, attended Grafton high school, and took a business course
at Wartburg Academy in Waverly. For a few years he worked as a carpenter
for Herman Dieterich.

September 11, 1928 he married Mildred Thorson. Three daughters were born
to them. They were engaged in farming until 1971 when they retired to
St. Ansgar.

Mr. Tesch served as a trustee of First Lutheran church here, also as a
township trustee, was member of the Newburg No.1 school board and the
local creamery board. During the years on the farm he enjoyed the woods
and the wildlife found there. In his retirement years, he enjoyed his
daily walks uptown to visit with people.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Mrs. Lloyd (Selma)
Nack and Mrs. Albert (Elise) Hotkmeyer; five brothers, Lawrence, Sigfried,
Julius, Oscar and Walter.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred of St. Ansgar; three daughters, Mrs.
Reginald  (June) Torrison of Rosemount, Minn., Mrs. Richard (Joyce) Jaspers
of Greene and Mrs. Gerald (Joanne) Ortman, Munster, Ind.; six grandchildren,
Jeffrey, Jerry and Jill Torrison; Lori, Scott and Brian Jaspers; one sister,
Mrs. Carl (Esther) Nack of Osage; five brothers, Arthur and Edwin of Osage;
Clarence of El Reno, Okla.; Rueben of Fairfield Bay, Ark.; and Harold of
Victoria, Tex.

Burial was in First Lutheran cemetery here, with Rev. Nesheim in charge
of committal services.


                 Typed by Betty Lou Franks - Oct., 2005