Othmar "Ottie" Mathias

www.Becherkluesner.com Becherkluesner@insightbb.com 812-482-4141 Dateline Jasper, Indiana Othmar "Ottie" Mathias, age 91, passed away at 4:38 p.m. Friday (February 1, 2013) in Memorial Hospital & Health Care Center in Jasper. He was born at Loogootee, Indiana September 15, 1921 to Joseph and Barbara (Prechtel) Mathies. He married Florentine Seger on May 4, 1946 at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Dubois, Indiana. Ottie was a member of the 80th Division Company E. 318th Regiment of the U.S. Army during WWII. He earned the Bronze Star for his service and has contributed pictures and documents to the Holocaust Museum. He helped liberate prisoners from the Dachau Concentration Camp. Over the last decade, Ottie had shared these military experiences with local schools and universities to help preserve these historical events, and sacrifices made by those soldiers who never returned. In 2012 he received the Hoosier Hero award in Indianapolis, Indiana. The article on Ottie's story can be found at http://m.courierpress.com/news/2012/nov/10/30pt-hed3-15-inches-of-story-one-line-headline/?partner=RSS. Ottie retired from Armstrong Implement Store, where he had worked for 25 years He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed playing cards. He was a member of Precious Blood Catholic Church, the Precious Blood Men's Society, St. Vincent DePaul Society, the Fairview Cemetery Committee, the Dubois County Museum, Jasper Knights of Columbus, the V.F.W. Post #673, the V.F.W. Rifle Squad, American Legion Post #147, and Disabled American Veterans #77, and the Ireland Sportsman Club. Surviving, Wife, Florentine Mathias, Jasper, IN One daughter, Charlene Sermersheim, and her husband, Gary, Ireland, IN Three sons, Dennis Mathias, and his wife, Nancy, Pittsboro, NC Larry Mathias, and his wife Iomara, Charlotte, NC Paul Mathias, Macon, MS 11 grandchildren 17 great grandchildren One great- great grandson Two Brothers, Donald Mathias, and his wife Leona, Loogootee, IN Delmar Mathies, and his wife Margaret, Loogootee, IN Preceding Ottie in death are one daughter, Irene Persohn, three sisters, Ardella Norris, Genevia Riney, and Doris Burger, and three brothers, Robert Mathies, Victor Mathias, and Ernest "Ernie" Mathias. Funeral services for Othmar "Ottie" Mathias will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday (February 5, 2013) at Precious Blood Catholic Church in Jasper, with entombment to follow in the Fairview Cemetery Mausoleum. The V.F.W. Post #673 will conduct military graveside rites. Friends may call from 12:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday (February 4, 2013) at the Becher-Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper. Memorial contributions may be made to Precious Blood Catholic Church, the St. Vincent DePaul Society, or to a favorite charity. Online condolences can be made at www.becherkluesner.com.