Homer Lee Otterman

Homer Lee Otterman, 97, passed away peacefully Monday at his home in Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Cabot.

Homer was born in South Buffalo Township, Armstrong County January 1, 1921.

Homer attended Stokes Grade School before graduating from Freeport High School in 1939.

Homer joined the U.S. Army in January 1943 and proudly served overseas as a Gun Commander on the M-18 Hellcat Tank with the 817th Tank Destroyer Battalion, where his unit was part of the European Theater Operations that landed on Utah Beach in Normandy.

At the end of World War II, he returned to his home and his job at Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp. in Brackenridge, where he continued to work as a melter and furnace tender until his retirement after 40 years.

Homer maintained a life-long kinship with his battalion members through annual reunions around the Western Pennsylvania area. Together, the veterans memorialized their cherished battalion through the creation of the Tank Destroyer's Memorial Monument, which was dedicated during the Battalion's 50th reunion at the Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Ky. Homer also authenticated and assisted in the reproduction of the battalion's flag which was dedicated alongside the monument at the museum where it remains on public display.

Homer was a member of the American Legion Post 775. At age eight, he became a member of the South Buffalo Juvenile Grange. He then went on to become a member of the Subordinate Grange, the Armstrong County Pomona Grange, the Pennsylvania State Grange and the National Grange. He was also a founding father and charter member of the South Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Armstrong County Fireman's Association.

As a baptized member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Homer also served as assistant superintendent of the Sunday school where he was active in the Lutheran Men's activities and served a two-year term as president of the Church School Association of the Eastern Conference District of the Pittsburgh Synod. His brief teaching experience with a group of high school youth on Sunday mornings grew to become a very memorable and important part of his life.

As South Buffalo Township began to grow, Homer saw a need to assist with the planning and creation of ordinances by serving a six-year term with the South Buffalo Township board of supervisors. He then continued to serve three additional years as the secretary and treasurer of the board. He also served on the Legislative Committee and Convention Committee of the State Association of Supervisors. During his time of service, Homer assisted with the naming of the roads in South Buffalo Township so that mail deliveries would be more convenient at the homeowner's individual location.

Homer enjoyed gardening, woodworking and numerous building projects around the home he built for his family. He also learned piano tuning and repair for a hobby which also supplemented the family's income during periods when the steel industry was on strike. Homer also enjoyed traveling with his beloved wife, Dorothy, and together they visited all 50 states, Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico, a memorable trip over the Arctic Circle and several trips to Europe, to keep in touch with friends he made during his military service in Belgium.

Homer is survived by his children, Joyce Ann (David) Pratley of Pittsburgh, Donna Lee (Dale) Saurers of Slidell, La., Lewis Edwin (Sharen) Otterman Sr. of Freeport, and Jeff Homer Otterman (Russell Blain) of Tampa, Fla.; his grandchildren, Eric (Heidi) Pratley, Teri Beth Jamrozik, Deborah (Jason) Petrolia (Jason), Daniel (Erin) Saurers, and Lewis (Kelli) Otterman Jr.; and his great-grandchildren, Brent, Makenna and Megan Pratley, Peyton, Payne, and Piper Petrolia, Ainsley and Cooper Saurers and Riley and Colton Otterman.

Homer was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Jane McQueen Otterman; his father, Raymond Kuhns Otterman; his mother, Ida Agness Hesselgesser Otterman; his sister, Eleanor Estelle Keener; a brother, Charles Russel Otterman; and his great-grandson, Brandon Pratley.

OTTERMAN — Family and friends of Homer Lee Otterman, who died Monday, March 5, 2018, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Redmond Funeral Home, 524 High St., Freeport.Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the funeral home with the Rev. Jocelyn Johnston officiating. Entombment with military honors will be held at Greenwood Memorial Park Mausoleum in Lower Burrell.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Homer's memory to Trinity Lutheran Church, 323 5th Street, Freeport, PA and to South Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department, 100 Firehall Road, Freeport, PA 16229, Concordia Lutheran Ministries Foundation, 134 Marwood Road, Cabot PA 16023-2206.To send a condolence visit, www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com.