Obituary of Michaela Otto

Memorial Tribute Michaela Jo (Grimmius) Otto was born on March 6, 1980 in Iowa City, IA. When she was eight years old, she was loved and cared for by two foster families, Gerry and Deanna Noordhoek and Dwaine and Linda DeGroote. At age eleven, Henry and Yvonne Grimmius welcomed Michaela into their home, and became her adopted parents in 1991. Much of her childhood years were then spent in Sibley, IA. She graduated from Sibley-Ocheyedan High School, and later from the LeMars Beauty School in LeMars, IA. On June 8, 2002, she was united in marriage to Jason Timothy Otto at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hartley, IA. They settled into their home on a farm east of May City. Michaela began her cosmetology career at Cost Cutters and Bella Via Salons, both in Spirit Lake, IA. She then worked at Family Traditions, and finally Real Reflections, both in Hartley. She loved to make people happy by doing their hair, and making them feel pretty. She especially enjoyed doing pedicures and manicures. Michaela and Jason were blessed with three beautiful daughters, Madison (6 yr.), Megan (4 yr.) and Moriah (2 yr.). Michaela’s greatest joy was being a loving and devoted mommy to her “three little angels”, as she called them. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and the IEF Women’s Club. Following a year-long battle with mesothelioma, Michaela passed away at her home near May City on Monday, August 23, 2010. She was 30 years young, and will be remembered by many for the beautiful smile that she ALWAYS wore. Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Jason, and their daughters, Madison, Megan and Moriah; her mother, Yvonne Grimmius of Sibley; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jerry and Kathleen Otto of Hartley; her brother Curtis Lamfers, Jr. of California; two sisters, April (Ryan) Beardshear and son Caleb, and Tanya Meister all of Sioux City, IA, three sisters-in-law, Kristina (Matt) Bush, Avery, Anissa and Aiden, Katen (Donny) Sadler and Kambrie Hope (Michaela’s god-daughter), and Kylah Otto, all of Hartley; a brother-in-law, Jared (Tiffany) Otto of Ankeny, IA; a special uncle in her life, Randy (Jessica) Madsen and children Christopher, Ryan and Emily of McAllen, TX; numerous other aunts, uncles and cousins who Michaela taught so many life lessons through the courage and bravery she displayed while battling her illness. She was preceded in death by her father, Henry Grimmius and one sister, Connie who died in infancy. Celebrating the life of Michaela Jo Otto Born ~ March 6, 1980 Died ~ August 23, 2010 Age ~ 30 years 5 months 17 days Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 27, 2010 St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Hartley, Iowa Officiating ~ Fr. Tim Hogan Organist ~ Donna McCarty Congregational Singing Processional ~ “On Eagles’ Wings” #442 Offertory ~ “You Are Mine” #478 Communion ~ “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman” #714 “If You Could See Me Now” (CD) “Song of Farewell” #687 Closing ~ “The Climb” (CD) Pallbearers Jared Otto Don Sadler Matt Bush Ryan Beardshear Joey Rost Mike Otto Heath Van Meeteren Jeremy Howard Honorary Pallbearers Gerry Noordhoek Dwaine De Groote Randy Madsen Sharon Otto Dennis Grimmius Galen Hartman Rick Grimmius Ben Grimmius Interment Harrison Township Cemetery May City, Iowa