Otto Czmowski

Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 A.M. Saturday, June 18, 2011 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Webster, burial will be at St. Ottos Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Friday 6-8 P.M. with a 7:30 P.M. Rosary. Family prefers memorials to be directed to Christ The King Catholic Church, 1101 E. 1st St., Webster, SD 57274. Otto Czmowski was born on Friday, February 12, 1915 at Webster, South Dakota to John and Marie (Zepff) Czmowski who immigrated from Glatow, Germany. He was the youngest of nine children (6 boys and 3 girls). His mother died when he was two years old. He was raised on a farm southwest of Webster and attended St. Ottos Parochial School completing the eighth grade. At the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II and was involved in campaigns in Rhineland and Central Europe. He was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Theatre Service Medal, American Theatre Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal, two Overseas Service Bars and several others. He was discharged on November 2, 1945. He was a self-taught carpenter-mason, working on many homes in the region. At one time, while working in a trench at Castlewood, it caved in and he was buried over his head. He thanks his coworkers for digging him out in time. He saw many changes in his lifetime. Highway 12 changing from a single-lane dirt road, the speed of modern vehicles compared to the Model T when he was growing up and farming with horses. Society and politics also changed with women voting, desegregation and now a black president. He enjoyed volunteering with the Webster R.S.V.P. delivering meals and generally, just helping out. He never married, although he was close early in his life. Otto passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at Webster, South Dakota at the age of 96 years, 4 months and 2 days. He is survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters.