James W. Otterson's Obituary
James Wesley Otterson (June 2, 1926- July 3, 2023)
Jim was born in 1926, the only child of John Wesley Otterson and Mina Jerina Stokke Otterson. He grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, as part of a large, extended Norwegian family. He was active and athletic when he was young, and loved being outdoors, playing basketball and attending church activities. He graduated from Denfeld High School in 1944, and enlisted in the United States Navy the following day. During World War II, he served on the U.S.S. Saratoga aircraft carrier in the Pacific. Following the war, he graduated from the University of Minnesota in Duluth with a degree in business accounting, and later earned his CPA certification. He married Gladys Karlstrand, from Proctor, MN, on November 23, 1951. James and Gladys had five wonderful children. He worked as an accountant in Hoyt Lakes, MN for the Erie Mining Company, and served on the local school board. They later moved to Janesville, WI, in 1962, where he worked for Parker Pen Company. Later, he worked for Rock County Honda until retirement.
He and Gladys were season ticket holders for Badger basketball and football for 25 years. He served as treasurer for the First Lutheran Church in Janesville, and was active with the Sons of Norway. Jim and Gladys traveled to Sweden and Norway and met extended family members there. Jim was a long-time member of Golden K Kiwanis Club, and the Y’s Men Club in Janesville. On weekend mornings and in his free time, he could be seen on the Janesville golf courses, and once proudly shot a hole-in-one. Jim was known for his great sense of humor and was a friend to all. He loved going out to eat, attending the Janesville Concert Series, summer lake trips in the Midwest, and enjoying a root beer float with kids and grandkids. He kept up with technological advances and followed the stock market even at age 97.
He moved back to Madison in later years of life to be closer to family, and then moved to Central Wisconsin Veterans’ Home in King, WI. After nearly 70 years of marriage, his wife Gladys passed away at age 91 in 2021. Jim passed away peacefully at the age of 97, on July 3, 2023 with his family around him.
In addition to his wife Gladys, he is predeceased by his parents, Wes and Mina Otterson. He is survived by his five children, Carey Allen (Dalton); James R. Otterson; Gale Otterson; Susan Otterson (Greg Smith); and Ruth Bachmeier (Scott). He is survived by seven granddaughters: Olivia (Andrew), Annabelle (Erik), Rachel (Daniel), Sarah (Luke), Keely, Emma, and Heidi. He also had five great-grandchildren: Logan, Delaney, Eva, Astrid, and Parker. Jim was laid to rest at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery on July 7, 2023, assisted by Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca. The family would like to thank the wonderful nursing and care staff at King Veterans’ Home for their skilled and compassionate care of Jim and Gladys in their final years.
“Now abides faith, hope, love… but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
What’s your fondest memory of James?
What’s a lesson you learned from James?
Share a story where James' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with James you’ll never forget.
How did James make you smile?