Otto Paetzold

Otto Reinhard Paetzold of Ste. Rose du Lac passed away at the Ste. Rose General Hospital on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at the age of 84 years. Otto, the younger of two children, was born on September 25, 1937 in Ochre River to Richard and Bertha (Meyerhoff) Paetzold.

In his early years, he attended the Roxton School, located two miles west of the family farm. He and his sister Martha would walk uphill both ways every school day. Otto was known to be a very fast runner and was likely conditioned by the many years trekking back and forth, no matter the weather. 
 

Otto worked alongside his dad on the farm as soon as he could pick up a pitchfork. He was a very hard worker and was eager to learn new skills and tackle any challenge before him. He particularly enjoyed carpentry and that was put to use when building his parents a house to live in later on when he got married.He also fondly remembered his few years of logging for George Turnbull with a team of horses in Riding Mountain National Park.
 

On April 4, 1970 Otto married Ruth Gibson at Grace Baptist Church in Ochre River. He was eager to teach Ruth the inner workings of farm life. Always an encourager, he respected her will to learn and believed in her abilities. They were a good team and worked well together. Otto and Ruth were married for 52 years.

In 1971, they welcomed their first child, Richard. Bruce came along in 1973 and Esther in 1975. Otto was a kind and loving father that took the time to teach and guide his children. Many life lessons were learned on the farm. He was instrumental in sowing seeds of faith into his children. 
 

Otto spent his 84 years on the same farmyard located four and half miles west of Ste. Rose du Lac. He worked hard as a cattle farmer until 2006 when a farm accident left him physically unable to continue. During calving season, an angry cow got the best of him. This incident seemed to mark the beginning of several medical challenges.

Thankfully, Otto was able to still able to fish. If there was a fish to be caught, he was there with a rod in hand. When not fishing, he'd be talking about his many fishing adventures, the one that got away or the one that was yet to be caught. Some fishing highlights included catching the largest Northern Pike in a fishing derby on Dauphin Lake, all night fishing on Lake Manitoba or on his one and only canoe trip to catch walleye after walleye with just a shred of white garbage bag on his hook. He also enjoyed his biannual trek to northern Manitoba to fish for trout on Clearwater Lake. There was nothing better for him than a fish fried in butter. Hunting was another passion but even that was outshone by fishing.

Otto was a member of Grace Baptist Church all of his life and is remembered for the time and energy that he poured into young people over the years as a youth sponsor and a Sunday School teacher. Other roles included church moderator, deacon, choir member and board member. He developed lifelong relationships with the people that he served with at the church and enjoyed many potlucks, picnics and baseball games with friends and neighbours.
 

Otto will be missed by his wife Ruth of Ste. Rose du Lac; children Richard (Nicole) of Winkler, Bruce (Irma) of Portage la Prairie, and Esther of Pine Falls; grandchildren Kelsey (Travis) of Morden, Marcus of Winnipeg, Ryan of Winkler, Carson of Winnipeg, Bailey of Winnipeg, Bronson, Elizabeth, Emily and Matthew of Portage la Prairie; great-grandchildren Levi, Ross and Claire of Morden. He will also be missed by nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbours.
 

Otto was predeceased by his parents Richard (1994) and Bertha (1984); sister Martha (2011); brother-in-law George (2002); father-in-law Charles Gibson (1977); and mother-in-law Irene Gibson (1997); 

Funeral Service for Otto will be held on Thursday, April 28th, 2022 at 2:00 PM in the Grace Baptist Church, located on the corner on Highway 5 and PR 480. At the request of the family, all attending the service are asked to wear a mask.    Pastor Steve Pearson will officiate with the interment following in the Turtle River Cemetery.  

Should friends so desire, please consider remembering Otto with a donation to a charity of your choice.