Larry Ott

A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Larry Ott will long be remembered for his steadfast love and care for his family. Larry was a great provider. A perfectionist by nature, his consistent care and sincere listening ensured those he loved that they could always count on him and that everything was okay. Larry was always interested in family matters; he had to know what was happening and wanted to be a part of it. While his dry sense of humor often left others wondering whether he was joking or being serious, there was never any doubt of Larry's commitment to those he cared for. A man who led with his heart, Larry will long be remembered and ever so missed.

German immigrants Julius and Edith (Wademan) Ott welcomed their son, Larry, to their hearts and home on April 1, 1941 in Saginaw. Growing up in Bay Port, Michigan, Larry loved the water, fishing, and boating. After graduating from Sebawing High School in 1959, Larry continued his education at Alma College where he had the good fortune of meeting the love of his life, Kathryn Kirkham, a fellow student in his Spanish class. Kathi was taken by his soft eyes. Their instructor could tell they were smitten with one another and, with a bit of teasing, encouraged them to follow their hearts. After transferring to Ferris State University, Larry earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration. During that time, he purchased a 1962 Corvette convertible, which he and Kathi enjoyed. The couple married on June 26, 1965. Before their honeymoon, Larry sold the Corvette as they began this new chapter of their lives. It was the practical thing to do, but the car was talked about for years to come.

Before they became parents, Larry and Kathi took a cruise. One of their stops was in Venezuela, which was not the safest place at the time. In fact, they had armed guards while touring the countryside with fellow passengers. They remembered enough Spanish to speak to a little boy who was riding the tram up the mountain with them. His name was Miguel, and he stole their hearts. They later wondered if the boy grew up to become Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers, one of Larry’s favorite teams.

Larry led a number of businesses throughout his life, including the business his dad bought, ThermaGlas, in Saginaw. The company's work focused on highly specialized glass, often requiring odd shapes, sizes, and designs typically used in commercial installations. As the second-generation owner of the company he would retire from, Larry was quite proud of a computerized glass-cutting machine that optimized the best way to score the glass. Installed in the early 1980’s, this further set ThermaGlas apart and gave them an edge over competitors. Larry’s son, Jeff, would do the programming when he was 14, which helped fuel Jeff's already budding interest in computers. Larry taught his sons the importance of fairness in business dealings and was proud that he always paid his staff a bit more than the going rate in an effort to take good care of them.

In his free time, Larry was a dedicated investor in the stock market. He enjoyed sharing the good news of the ups and bemoaning the news of the downs of the market. In addition to knowing a good financial investment where he saw it, Larry also invested in his family. He and Kathi raised two sons, Jeffrey and Steven. Though an avid hunter earlier in life, after having kids he focused more on his shared love of fishing and boating with his boys. Jeff credits Larry for helping to launch his career in computer programming by employing him while still in high school at ThermaGlas. During those summers, Jeff enjoyed commuting with his dad and learning about the world of business from him. Larry also made it a priority to set up his sons for their future career successes by supporting the pursuit of their college educations and advising them on sound financial skills, something for which both Steve and Jeff will forever be thankful.

While a steadfast provider and hard worker during the week, Larry found time to have fun with his family on weekends and vacations. He shared his interest in boating with Kathi on their Chris-Craft cruiser early in their marriage and then with Jeff and Steve at their Greenbush Cottage and Au Gres home as they grew up. He also shared his love for watching sports, including watching the Detroit Tigers on TV and attending Thanksgiving Lions games and Pistons Championship games with his family. As Larry had business dealings with the Detroit Pistons owner, Bill Davidson, he was gifted many tickets to Pistons' games. Many relaxing family vacations were spent in the Florida Keys, where Larry enjoyed fly fishing for tarpon every day with a guide. The guide would also take the boys out to catch mangrove snappers. During retirement, Larry took up the game of golf. He joined the golf club at Au Gres and shared his passion for the game with Kathi and Steve.

A proud grandpa of Owen and Evan, Steve and Jenny’s sons, Larry enjoyed sharing the fun of the Lake Huron beach home he and Kathi enjoyed for 40 years in Au Gres and then later spending time with them attending their school events once he and Kathi moved to be closer to Jeff and Steve's family in Kalamazoo. Larry also had a soft spot for and enjoyed spending time with each of the family's golden retrievers they had throughout the years.

As we celebrate Larry's life, may we find much comfort in our many treasured memories and in the honor of carrying his legacy forward. In each moment we enjoy being on the water, confidently meet the day's challenges, choose to follow our hearts, cheer on our loved one's endeavors, enjoy a good steak, or play a game of golf, we celebrate the countless ways Larry made life better. In this way, we keep his spirit alive and inspiring others as he so inspired each of us.

Larry Gene Ott, 83, current resident of Kalamazoo and long-time resident of Au Gres and Saginaw, MI, died peacefully on May 19, 2024, after battling leukemia for more than two years. Larry was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kathi; sons: Jeff and Steve (Jenny); grandsons: Owen and Evan; his sister, Carole Kuhl and her children.

A memorial service will be celebrated on Thursday, May 30, at 2 PM at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1264 Tonkey Rd, Au Gres, MI 48703. A reception will follow from 2:30-4:00 PM in the church hall. Private burial at Sims-Whitney Cemetery.

Celebrate Larry's life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, or the Wolverine Pride Association.