116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Richard (Rick) Ottsen
RICHARD KENNETH OTTSEN
Cedar Rapids
Richard (Rick) Ottsen went Home to be with his Heavenly Father on Jan. 21, 2017, at the age of 63.
He is survived by his wife, Susan Hadlock Ottsen; sons, Peter and Kevin; and three sisters and their husbands, Debbie and Jean Brunel, Karen and Don Gardiner and Sue and Jack Thompson.
Always their favorite son, he was preceded in death by his parents, Ken and Helene Ottsen.
Rick grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he swam competitively and made friendships that have survived the test of time. He graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in mechanical engineering. Because of his love of everything automotive, he initially decided to try his hand at racing Formula Fords. Later, he attended UCLA and earned an M.B.A. From there, he accepted a job with ExxonMobil, where he had a long career of 32 years and met his wife, Susan. Their careers included stops in Baton Rouge, La.; Houston, Texas; and Billings, Mont.; where he developed a lifelong love of Montana and the mountains. He said he always felt closer to God in the mountains.
He was a man of integrity and strong faith and was dedicated to serving others. He especially loved helping people with their cars. It was his dream to start a car repair ministry up in Montana. He was a great father and role model to his two sons, Peter and Kevin. He enjoyed being involved in their sports, whether coaching ice hockey or cheering from the bleachers at the thousands of baseball games. He imparted his love of long road trips and the mountains to them through the yearly summer tours of the U.S. He and Susan were in the process of relocating to Bozeman, when he became ill. He has traded the beauty of Montana for the beauty of Heaven in the presence of the Lord. He will be greatly missed by his very large extended family. We look forward to a joyful reunion one day.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, and from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at Rabenhorst-East Funeral Home on Florida Boulevard, Baton Rouge, La., followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Healing Place Church.
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