Fred E. Ott

Fred E. Ott, 93, of Baroda, passed away, Tuesday, September 2, 2009 at his home. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 2673 W. John Beers Rd., Stevensville, with Rev. Gerald Schroer officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Run Cemetery in Scottdale. Friends may call from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of which he was a member. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Fred was born July 21, 1916 in Baroda to Amel & Bertha (Hasse) Ott. He attended South Lincoln School on Lincoln Ave in Baroda. On December 9, 1939, he married the former Josephine “Jo” Berndt in St. Joseph. They celebrated nearly 70 years of marriage. He served his country in the Army Air Corp during WWII. Fred worked for many years at Clark Equipment in Buchanan and later at Avion Coach in Benton Harbor, from where he retired. However, Fred’s heart was in farming. He operated a fruit & vegetable farm on Lincoln Ave. even while working in the factory, and never retired from farming. Fred enjoyed his old tractors, and hunting and fishing in Honor, Michigan. He cherished the time spent with his family. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. Fred is survived by his wife Jo; his son-in-law Fred J. Alten of St. Joseph; his grandson Fred D. Alten of Lawton, MI; his sister Marietta Schinske of Millburg; and by many nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter JoAnn Alten in 1998, and by seven brothers & sisters.