James Robert Otten, 80

James Robert Otten, 80, of Cole Camp , died at his home on Wednesday, August 20, 2014, after a long battle with cancer.  He was born on April 10, 1934, at Cole Camp, Missouri, a son of Pete J.  and Roberta M. (Thompson) Otten.

On May 4, 1968, in Cole Camp, he was united in marriage to Beverly Ann Brockman, who survives of the home.  This union was blessed with the gift of a son, Brent.

Jim was a life-long member of United Lutheran Church, Cole Camp.  He was a 1952 graduate of Cole Camp High School.  From 1957-1959, he served his country honorably in the United States Army.  He was a former Mayor of Cole Camp and had served on the Cole Camp Fair Board.  At present, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Citizens-Farmers Bank of Cole Camp.

Jim worked for his dad in the trucking business for several years.  He drove a school bus and also worked at the Panhandle Eastern Pipe Lines Booster Station.  He operated the Jim Otten Insurance Agency for 40 years, selling it in 2006.  He also owned and operated the Jim Otten Real Estate Agency for a number of years.  At present, he with his son Brent operated Otten Ranch and Cattle.  He was very knowledgeable in all aspects of the cattle business and loved to talk "cattle".  He was always happy to help when someone needed it or to offer advice when they had a problem.  He enjoyed watching the St. Louis Cardinals.

Besides his wife, he is survived by: a son, Brent Otten and Tammy Schrader and her son Mason, all of Cole Camp;
a sister, Wanda (Jim) Meyer of Sedalia;
a sister-in-law, Nancy (Bill) Peterkort of Lee's Summit; and
seven nieces and nephews, Mike (Christy) Otten, Debbie York, Monica (Dennis) Rethman, Nicole (Larry) Frederick, Terri (Joe) DeSimone, Mark (Angela) Polomsky, and Charles (Kate) Polomsky.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Roberta Otten, a brother, John T. Otten, a brother-in-law, Bill Polomsky, his mother and father-in-law, Arpie and Edna Brockman.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2014, at Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp, with Pastor Marvin Stuenkel officiating.  Burial will be in Memorial Cemetery, rural Cole Camp.

The family will receive friends from 6 - 8 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorial contributions be given to Benton County Hospice or James R. Otten Memorial, which will be established to sponsor a Cole Camp High School Boy each year to attend the American Legion Boys' State of Missouri, which Jim has been a sponsor of for the last 48 years.  Memorials may be sent in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.

Pallbearers will be  Dennis Rethman, Larry Frederick, Mark Polomsky, Charles Polomsky, Joe DeSimone, Mark Schrader, and Tristan Rethman.  Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Wheeler, Eugene Eickhoff, Wanda Eckhoff, Diana Moellman, Linda Eckhoff, and the members of the Board of the Citizens-Farmers Bank.