Carol Lynn Otte

Born July 21, 1939, in Rockford, IL, to Alice Carlson Peterson and Kenneth Erlander Peterson, Carol was a graduate of Rockford East High School. She earned her degree in Education from the University of Illinois, where she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi.

Shortly after beginning her first teaching position in Chicago, she met the love of her life and husband of 53 years, Milton “Mit” Harvey Otte Jr. The couple settled in Glenview, where they began their family and formed lifelong friendships that remained dear to them throughout the years. They later moved to Houston, where Carol continued her teaching career for 18 years while raising their children, modeling daily the patience, kindness, and dedication she brought to her classroom.

In 2000, Carol and Mit moved to Sarasota to be closer to their growing family. There, she taught at The Florida Center for Early Childhood and embraced her most cherished role, the role of “Mimi”. She spent countless hours reading to, teaching, and nurturing her grandchildren, instilling in them her lifelong love of learning.

A woman of deep and abiding faith, Carol served on the altar guild at Church of the Redeemer for many years. Her generous spirit was evident in her volunteer work as a Salvation Army bell ringer, Bible school volunteer, and Election Day clerk. Even as she courageously faced the challenges of dementia, Carol’s instinct was always to help others. Her contagious smile and the twinkle in her eye will be missed by her family and her friends at American House.

Carol was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Mit. She is survived by her son, Craig Otte, and his wife, Meg, of Whitefish, MT; her daughter, Kristin Morton and her husband, Todd, of Sarasota; and her five treasured grandchildren: Will, Ivy, and Rhett Morton, and Lincoln and Nolan Otte.

She is also survived by her brother Craig Peterson and sister-in-law Carlyn; her sister Sally SanFilippo and brother-in-law Frank; and her beloved nephews, Jeff, Chad, David, Dean, and their families.

A Requiem Eucharist will be held on Thursday, April 30, at 11:30 a.m. at Church of the Redeemer in Sarasota.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Carol by thanking a teacher who made a difference in your life. Memorial donations may be made to Church of the Redeemer (redeemersarasota.org) or to the Alzheimer's Association (alz.org).