Otto John (OJ) Havelka, age 87, passed away peacefully in Rochester, MN on December 11th, 2022.
Otto was born in Dickinson, ND on December 5th, 1935 and was the seventh of ten children to Mary and John Havelka. He grew up farming and attended rural schools, graduating from Model High School. He attended DSTC for two years. He entered the United States Army in 1958 and was stationed in Fort McClellan, Alabama until 1960. Following this he served seven years in the Army Reserve and was honorably discharged. He moved to Owatonna, MN and was employed by the MN Highway Dept, Nelson Distributing, Tubeco, Ben's Liquor, and then became owner of H & S Distributing and All Seasons Storage.
On April 8th, 1967, he married JoAnne Thomas at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Owatonna. They loved to travel together throughout the United States and all over the world, seeing 6 different continents. Along with his wife of fifty-five years, his children and grandchildren were his greatest joys. Being with his loved ones was very important to him, and he enjoyed sharing his love of travel with his family. Otto enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing cards, enjoying new meats from small town meat markets, listening to polka music, and being surrounded by his friends and family.
Otto was active in the community as a member of the Knights of Columbus where he served as a Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator. He was a member of the Elks, Eagles, American Legion, and VFW Honor Guard. He was on the parish council and served as a lector at St. Joseph Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnne; children John (Amy Jo) Havelka, Owatonna, MN, Craig (Lisa) Havelka, Medford, MN, Jodi (Kris) McHugh, Grant, MI, and Cindy (LeRoy) Purrier, Rochester, MN; grandchildren Eli, Abe, Sol, and Kate Havelka, Colton and Taylor Havelka, and Emma and Abby Purrier: and his two sisters, Tillie and Mary Anne.
Otto was preceded in death by his brothers Joe, George, Laudie, Robert, David, and his sisters Lillian and Margaret.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, December 17th, 2022 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Friends may greet the family Saturday, December 17th from 9:30 am until the time of service at the church. Owatonna Knights of Columbus Rosary will be recited at 9:15 am on Saturday. Interment will follow the funeral mass at Sacred Heart Cemetery with military honors by the Steele County Funeral Unit. Following the lunch at St. Joseph Catholic Church, there will be a gathering to toast Otto at the Owatonna Knights of Columbus Hall.
|