Marshall “Marc” Otto, Sr. 06/06/2025

Marc Otto, age 78, peacefully passed away on Friday, June 6, 2025, with family by his side.

He was born on November 29, 1946, to Frederick George and Dora Lillie (Steffen) Otto in Menomonie, WI where he was raised.

He graduated from Menomonie High School and joined the Army National Guard as a cook serving for 6 years from 1964-1970. He took several academic courses and earned a medal for rifle marksmanship.

He moved to Roberts, WI in 1964 and worked for Erickson Industries, which later become Volrath and eventually Kolpak. He embraced the small town and his circle of friends. He became a member of the Lions Club in 1968, played fast pitch softball for the Roberts’ Eagles and was a member of the Roberts Volunteer Fire Department.

At Erickson’s, he started in the shop making panels for walk-in refrigerators and freezers.  When the business shifted to River Falls, Marc moved with it and began working his way around the plant and around the country.  He did research and development, field service (in Florida), acted as sales engineer, sales and service manager Etc. In 1986 he began his career as a sales representative for the midwestern region.  In 1991 Marc and his partner, Dennis Nelson, created D&M Marketing, to represent Kolpak and other restaurant equipment manufacturers. After a very successful 11 plus-year run they sold the business, and Marc worked an additional 3 years representing Kolpak before retiring in 2005.

No doubt Marc loved to travel. He had been to all 50 states, 10 European countries and at least a dozen cruises. He loved Mexico, England, Germany and, well, truthfully wherever he was as long as he was with friends and family. Meeting new people and learning about their lives made him happy.

Surpassing Marc’s love of travel would have to be family.  Marc loved his children Mark and Chrissy as much as any father possibly could. He spent most weekends with his children as they grew up.  Any opportunity to get the extended family together was taken. There were many picnics in Menomonie with the Otto siblings and their offspring. These times were treasured memories of Marc’s.

Marc’s legacy may be his generosity.  He gave of his time, his gifts, his money, anything that might help a friend or even a stranger in need.  It might be a loan to help someone get by for now or building a room in a basement. It might be buying a vehicle for someone in need or getting up at 3:00 a.m. to take someone to the airport. It might be lending a shoulder to cry on, helping build a deck or installing lights. He loaned his truck, his tools, his labor, and his mind all to make other’s lives easier and more joyful.

Marc was preceded in death by his mother and father; his brothers, Kenneth, Dewane, Gerald, and Lavern; his sisters, Donna Shafer and Margaret Hanson, several of his nephews; other family members and many dear friends .

He is survived by his wife of 34 years Lori; son, Marshall (Mark); daughter, Christine (Chrissy) Priller; sister, Kathleen (LeRoy) White; granddaughter, Madisyn Otto; grandsons, Haydn and Ty Priller; many nieces and nephews, other family members and many dear friends.

A memorial service is being planned for Thursday, June 26, 2025 at First Congregational Church, River Falls, Wisconsin at 2:00PM with visitation starting at 1:00PM.

Cremation services provided by Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The River Falls Food Pantry or Our Neighbors Place.