David Lynn Otto
David was born in Burwell, Nebraska July 12, 1959 to Loraine (Lindsay) and Leonard Otto, the youngest of four children. He passed away January 28, 2023 in Bentonville, AR at the age of 63.
He attended Burwell Public Schools graduating from Burwell High School in 1977. He represented Burwell in basketball and track and field from junior high through high school. He always enjoyed athletics of any kind whether it was a backyard football game or 3 on 3 basketball in a driveway or town-team competition and he was an accomplished referee, having officiated many basketball games at all levels.
He spent his college years at Wayne State College in Wayne, NE majoring in History. Dave was a well-read and knowledgeable student of history throughout his life.
While he was in high school and college Dave spent summers employed at Fort Hartsuff during a time when major restoration work was underway, This is where he gained valuable construction experience that served him well throughout the rest of his life. In the fall of 1984 Dave moved to the Omaha area and worked for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission assisting with the construction of Mahoney State Park guest lodges and other park facilities.
Following his father's death, Dave moved back to Burwell where he spent most of his adult life working as an independent contractor. At the time of his mother's illness he became her caregiver until her death in 2012.
Dave was an avid sports fan, especially basketball ("Gotta Love those Lakers!") as well as Nebraska Cornhusker football, volleyball and women's basketball. For a number of years he shared his passion for basketball by coaching and mentoring Burwell Junior High girls' basketball teams.
Dave was a lifelong member of the Burwell United Methodist Church. He enjoyed debating politics with his Wednesday group at the Pizza Palace. Dave was a big man, but his love for others was much larger. When someone needed his assistance, he'd drop whatever he was doing to help. He taught others the basics of carpentry; he taught those less athletically skilled how to shoot a basketball; most of all, he taught others how to love one another.
Dave's "Wayne State College family" was his second family and after graduation he enjoyed attending the annual WFY reunions. Dave was proud of Burwell and over the years, he hosted several WFY get-togethers where he introduced them to his hometown. During these reunions, he led the group to Fort Hartsuff, took them to Calamus Reservoir for swimming, boating and skiing and arranged for a few rounds of sandhills golf and to the Sandhills Brewing Company where they drank a few root beers and sampled a couple "other" fine refreshments. Dave even used his superior muzzle loader shooting skills (for several years he served as an officer for the United Nebraska Muzzle Loaders Association) while teaching them how to shoot cow pies floating down the river.
He lived most of his life in Burwell until relocating to Bentonville, Arkansas in August, 2022. Dave was the "favorite uncle" to his nieces and nephews Paige, Allison, Walker and Wade. Until his illness Dave and Paige's daughter Gia were almost daily Facetime buddies.
Dave was a blood donor for many years in Burwell and he continued his gift of life as an organ and tissue donor after his death. In 2020 he was hospitalized with Covid-19 and the illness caused severe heart damage.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Sharon Frink, his brother-in-law Steve Morris, his grandparents Lee and Anna Lindsey and Charles and Anna Otto.
He is survived by his brother Don (Sylvia ) of Fort Worth, his sister Doris Morris of Corpus Christi, Texas, his brother-in-law Roger Frink of Bentonville, Arkansas, his nieces Paige Sheffield Camarillo (Steve) and her children Grant and Gia of Corpus Christi, Allison Otto Baumgardner and her daughter Olivia of Fort Worth , his nephews Walker and Wade Frink of Bentonville and Wade's children Ashley of Lincoln and Kazz and Beckett of Bentonville, his uncle Roye Lindsay of Burwell, his aunt Mildred Otto of Kearney and several cousins.
At Dave's request there will be no formal service. Instead, he asked that his ashes be scattered along the banks
of the North Loup River. In his memory, gifts may be made to Circle of Life Hospice, 1201 NE Legacy
Parkway, Bentonville, AR 72712 or a charity of your choice.