Obituary of Agnes C Otteman

Agnes C (Huntzinger) Otteman was born June 6, 1925 at the family homestead 15 miles north of Flagler, CO. She died September 12, 2021 at Aspen Leaf in Flagler from cancer. Her parents were Sidney V. and Gerda H. (Brandenburg) Huntzinger. She was the youngest of four children. She grew up on the family farm working with the rest of her family to make it a success. She attended Liberty, a one room school, for the first six years and then attended school in Flagler while boarding in town. Agnes graduated valedictorian from Flagler High School on 1943. She then attended Saint Luke’s Nursing and graduated in September 11, 1946. On December 2, 1945 she married her high school sweetheart, Fred Otteman at Grace Lutheran Church in Denver. Fred was on leave from the Navy after serving in the Pacific during WW II. They became parents of four children, Gail, Carl, Marla and Mark. After his discharge and her graduation from nurses training they lived and worked on her parent’s farm. In 1950 they moved to town after purchasing the grocery store Fred had worked in during his high school years. Agnes stated on many occasions how thankful she was to have married a Christian man of faith and for them to have raised their family in the faith. On October 12, 1947 she was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church and remained a member there until joining the Church Triumphant at her death. She was an active member, serving as a Sunday school teacher and helping with VBS. She was a member of LWML. She served as treasurer for many years and then was the financial secretary until just recently. She was active in many of the Bible studies held at Zion. She commented during her recent illness that she was sanctified by the Lord, which means she was set apart or declared holy and consecrated. This was only made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. After the move to town in 1950 she kept books for Otteman’s Cash Store, managed the family’s affairs and occasionally helped out at the Flagler Hospital. When the children were older she starting working for Kit Carson County as county health nurse for 13 years. During this time she was instrumental in starting EMT training in eastern Colorado resulting in the volunteer ambulance services seen in this area today. She also was on the original Community Medical Center board, raising enough funds to build the clinic in town, replacing the hospital after it closed. She served as treasurer until the clinic was transferred to the Town of Flagler. After serving as county health nurse she was hired by Centennial Mental Health as the ombudsmen for a 4 county area. She served for 11 years before retiring in 1990. It was also during this time that her husband of 35 years passed away. Agnes’s Christian faith and her family were her top priorities, but her other passions included keeping her yard immaculate, bird watching and coin collecting. Anyone who was able to see her many varieties of irises in bloom appreciated the show. In later years she loved to sit out on nice evenings and watch the turkey vultures glide through the sky. She also became involved in Red Hat Society and loved seeing old friends and making new ones in the area. She is survived by her four children: Gail Fruhling of Kingman AZ, Carl & Becky Otteman of LaJunta CO, Marla Kuefner of Santa Rosa CA and Mark & Cynthia Otteman of Flagler CO. She also survived by 9 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 10 nieces and nephews as well as a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Fred, her siblings and their spouses, 2 sons-in-law, Wayne Kuefner and Bob Fruhling, a nephew, grandson and great-granddaughter. Services are at Zion Lutheran Church with burial at the Flagler Cemetery on Monday, September 20, 2021. Memorial contributions can be made to: Creighton Senior Center, P.o. Box 205, Flagler, CO 80815 or Lutherans For Life, 1101 5th St., Nevada, IA 50201-1816.