Bill Ottenwess

William H. Ottenwess will most certainly be remembered for his work ethic, and dedication to doing a job right. Blessed with a unique mechanical ability, Bill could fix just about anything. However, it is his generous spirit, his love and devotion to family, and his ability to make the very best of any situation with a joke and a smile, that are most in the hearts and minds of the people that knew him.

1935 is probably best known for events in Europe that would culminate in World War II. But for most Americans, their lives were centered on recovering from the Great Depression. They listened in amazement as radio announcers told of Amelia Earhart's solo flight across the Pacific from California to Hawaii. And sports fans cheered as Babe Ruth hit his 714th - and last - homerun. For Victor and Irene (Keeler) Ottenwess, living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1935 was a year of personal amazement and joy. On March 12, 1935, Irene gave birth to their second child, a baby boy they named William. William was born at home and joined his big brother, Victor. The two of them were later joined by brothers Paul, Charles and John. It was a family to be proud of.

Bill's father worked as a tool and die maker to support the family while Irene was busy caring for the home and keeping track of their five lively boys. The family was bound by a strong faith in God and were all members of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grand Rapids. St. Mary's served as the cornerstone of their faith, and it was here that each boy took his first Holy Communion, Confession, and Confirmation. For Bill, it would also be where he was married.

Bill and his brothers attended St. Mary's Elementary School and Union High School on Turner Avenue, where Bill was a member of the 1953 graduating class. Although Bill was a good student, his real talent lay in working with his hands. He had a natural talent for anything mechanical and loved to tinker. His first victim was his bicycle. He would take it apart to see how everything worked and then put it all back together, just like new. From bicycles, Bill soon moved on to cars. This natural progression led to setting up his own shop right after high school. He called it the WHO Shop, using the initials of his name, William H. Ottenwess.

Along with his good friend, Jim Taber, they began their fledgling business right at Bill's house. Here, they fixed and repaired all makes of cars and trucks. As time went on, Jim took over more of the business while Bill went to work as a mechanic at Alberta-Shook Chevrolet. Bill stayed at the dealership for a few years while at home, "Taber and Ottenwess" was growing by leaps and bounds. By 1957, Bill and Jim had bought a building at 2501 Wilson Avenue, near Remembrance Road, to house their growing enterprise, and Bill left his job at Alberta-Shook to concentrate on his own business. When Bill left Alberta-Shook, his boss gave him two silver dollars for good luck, saying "Here. You never know when you might need these". Whether these coins had anything to do with Bill's good fortune remains to be seen, but he carried them with him every day after that. Now, after all these years, they are worn, undistinguishable silver discs.

In 1969, with coins in his pocket, Bill and Jim moved their business around the corner to Remembrance Road where it still stands. These two young men, through hard work and dedication, started a partnership that became a thriving success, employing thirty people. After Bill and Jim retired, Bill's brother Jack and Greg Taber took over the company and still runs the business. Although retired, Bill continued to visit the shop nearly every day. Bill also had another job on the side, fixing and selling farm trucks and school busses. Bill would personally pick up and deliver each vehicle.

During all this time, Bill had been living on his own. One day, while having lunch at Bud's Hamburgers on Remembrance, his friend Elaine Heibel tried her best to persuade Bill to ask one of her friends for a date. However, Bill was much more interested in Elaine. The two began dating and over the next six years, their love continued to grow. One of the best days of Bill's life was July 11, 1959, when he and Elaine were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Bill's family church.

While Bill worked at his shop, Elaine worked at Neimeyer's 5 & 10 store on West Leonard. With both of them working, they were soon able to buy a home on Leonard Street, just past 8th Avenue where they stayed for the next fifteen years. It was here that they raised their three children. Son Bill Jr. was born on October 23, 1964, son Ron on June 29, 1967 and daughter Theresa on September 13, 1968. While Bill worked, Elaine was the homemaker, and took the children back and forth to school every day.

One of their favorite family activities was taking vacations together. Over the years, they visited such locales as Mexico, Yellowstone, Las Vegas, Louisiana, Florida, Texas and nearly every other state in the union. After living in their home for 15 years, Bill and Elaine moved a mile down the road, but still on Leonard. This was still a somewhat rural area and they were able to have cows, pigs, chickens, horses, and even a pet raccoon.

Bill's father died in 1961 and it became a tradition for him and his brothers to meet each Sunday and have coffee with their mother. This family get-together continued until 1978 when Irene passed away. Saddened by the loss of his parents, Bill and Elaine were now coping with Elaine's declining health. She had suffered for years from Lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. Eventually, the disease became more severe and Elaine was hospitalized. She died in May of 1985. Bill and his family were devastated, but with the help of family and their faith, they were able to move on. However, two years later, son Bill, Jr. was killed in an accident at the shop. He was just 23 years old. This was almost more than Bill could bear, but again, family, friends, and his faith gave him the strength to bear this tragic loss.

After Elaine's death, Bill's brother Paul thought Bill needed some companionship and suggested he meet a lovely lady named Loretta Fryear, a widow who ran a fruit stand on 8-Mile Road and Fruit Ridge Avenue. Thinking that this sounded like a good idea, Bill went to the fruit stand to buy some plums, but Loretta wasn't there. He tried again but Loretta never seemed to be there when he was. Finally, Bill just called her on the phone. They arranged to meet and after dating for a while, were married on July 19, 1991 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Sparta, Loretta's family church, another best day for Bill. Unfortunately, there was no honeymoon as both had to go to work the next day. Together, they built a home on Stage NW, in Alpine Township.

Bill had many interests to keep him busy - when he wasn't working. He loved the old time country music and especially enjoyed the music of Hank Williams, Ernest Tubbs, and Hank Snow. With his love of cars, it was no surprise that he also liked NASCAR. He watched it every Sunday on TV and even ran a tow truck at the Berlin Raceway for years. Loretta shared his interest and they had been to the Atlanta Speedway and the Daytona 500.

Like most men, Bill loved to eat, with his favorites being spaghetti, goulash, brats, coleslaw and fried chicken. He would even help out in the kitchen, occasionally fixing dinner, and helped clean the house.

Bill enjoyed eating out and had just returned home from a fish dinner at St. Catherine's church with Loretta and some friends. While watching TV he complained of chest pains, but thought no more about it. Getting up to go to the restroom, Bill collapsed. Loretta immediately called 911 and township EMS who were also neighbors, were first on the scene. Bill was rushed to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital and died in the emergency room that evening.

Bill Ottenwess was a generous and caring man. Blessed with a wonderful sense of humor, he loved to talk to people, especially the ladies. A loving son, husband, father and grandfather, Bill will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Mr. William H. "Bill" Ottenwess, aged 71, of Grand Rapids, passed away very unexpectedly on Saturday morning, April 8, 2006 at Spectrum Health - Butterworth Hospital. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine Ottenwess (Heible) and his son, Bill Ottenwess Jr. He was a member of the Grand Rapids Casino Club, Knights of Columbus St. Vincent DePaul Council #4404, TARA (Truck, Frame and Axle Assn), Antique Farm Power Club and was a member of Holy Family Church in Sparta, MI. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Loretta Ottenwess (Fryear); his children, Ronald and Kristen Ottenwess, granddaughter, Ella Platt, Theresa Ottenwess (Dan Clock), grandson, Simon Clock; his step children, John Fryear and Joseph Fryear (Linda Clay); his brothers and sister-in-law, Victor and Barbara Ottenwess, Paul and Thelma Ottenwess, Charles and Mary Joan Ottenwess, John and Laura Ottenwess; many nieces and nephews and many friends. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 425 S. State St in Sparta. (meet at church). Burial will be in Rosedale Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet Bill's Family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW on Sunday evening from 7-9 and on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 with a vigil service at 7:00 PM. Please visit Bill's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, or sign the online guest book. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory are requested to Alpine Township Fire Department or the Van Andel Institute for Cancer Research.