Deanna Jean (Williams) Otto

Deanna J. Otto, age 80, of Galva, passed away on Tuesday, December 01, 2020 at the Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy of Omaha. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, December 06, 2020 at 1:30 PM at the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Galva with the Rev. Paul D. Egger officiating.  Burial will be held at the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery of Galva.  A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 05, 2020 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Galva.

Deanna Jean (Williams) Otto was born March 30, 1940 at home in Casey, Iowa to Delbert D. Williams and Wilma W. (Wilson) Williams.  As a child she lived in Casey and Somers then moved to Calendar.  She was a 1958 graduate of Gowrie High School.  Upon graduation, Deanna attended UNI for one year, and then transferred to Buena Vista College where she earned a teaching degree in 1962.  At Buena Vista, Deanna was a member of the BV Beaverette Dance Squad.  She taught for one year at Clarion High School and started the girls sports program.  She taught P.E. for two years in Gowrie and was involved in girl’s basketball, softball and cheerleading.

On June 9, 1963, Deanna was united in marriage to Virdene L.W. Otto in Gowrie, Iowa.  They made their home in Fort Dodge, Gowrie and Harcourt before moving to a farm just outside of Galva, Iowa in 1970.

Over the years, Deanna worked part time at the DeKalb plant and Wal-Mart in Storm Lake in addition to helping run the farms.  She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Galva where she was active in the Ladies Aide.  Deanna was a member of the Good Samaritan Auxiliary and the Fort Dodge Square Dance Club.  She helped with the Dayton Labor Day Rodeo, was a member of the Galva Centennial Committee, a Galva Girl Scouts leader, volunteered at the Good Samaritan Society and was a member of a ladies and couples Bridge Club.  She loved horses, and watching cowboy movies, especially ones starring John Wayne.  She enjoyed playing basketball and softball, card games, and working outside, particularly in her flower garden.  She cherished the time spent with family, including baking and shopping with her girls.  Deanna could talk to anyone and accepted everyone into her heart and home.  She often opened her home to those needing a temporary place to live and babysat a few special kids over the years.  She often called friends and family to stay in touch, and enjoyed teasing and giving them a hard time when she did.   Deanna hated goodbyes; it was instead, “See ya later.”

She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Virdene Otto of Galva, IA; daughters, Tracy (Bryan) Terry of Holstein, IA and Sheri (Doug) Conover of Galva, IA; grandchildren, Kelli (Dustin) Hahn of Worthington, MN, Kody (Kayla) Terry of Holstein, IA, Kyle (Leann) Terry of Hudson, WI, Tori Conover (Paul Allerdings)  of Alta, IA, Ashley (Sean) Bainbridge of Kinsgley, IA, Kegan Conover of Galva, IA and Daphne Conover of Galva, IA; 11 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Bob Swanson of Latimer, IA; sisters-in-law, Ann Williams of Dayton, IA and Myrna Callison of Omaha, NE; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Deanna was preceded in death by her parents, Delbert and Wilma Williams; parents-in-law, Adolf and Lorna Otto; brother, Darrell Williams; sister, Pearl Swanson; brother-in-law, Darwin Otto.