Ann Christine Otte, 83, formerly of Ridgeville Corners, passed away peacefully surrounded by friends on Saturday, February 3rd in Portland, OR.

Ann was born on February 8, 1940 in Ridgeville Corners, Ohio to Morris and Martha (Schwiebert) Otte and baptized on March 3rd of that year. She graduated from Ridgeville High School in 1958 and went on to attend Valparaiso University where she graduated in 1962 with a BS in Physical Education. While at Valpo she pledged Alpha Xi Epsilon and became a recruiter during her senior year. Her friends will tell you she was a born leader and such a great friend. To know her was to love her.

One of her first teaching positions was at Outdoor School in California before settling in Portland. She accepted a position as Dean of Women at Concordia University in Portland and later taught elementary Phys Ed at Portland Public Schools. After more than 30 years of teaching, she retired in 1997.

She loved the outdoors and was always up for fun adventures. Her personality and spirit were contagious. She enjoyed snow skiing on Mt Hood, where she owned a cabin, and loved fishing and camping in the summer. She even lived on a houseboat on the Columbia River for several years, perfect for fishing.

Traveling and visiting new places was another of her passions. After college graduation, she toured all over Europe on an unforgettable month-long trip with Valparaiso University. She also visited many states across the US including Alaska and eventually made a dream trip to Africa. But her most treasured place to visit was her family's cottage on Lake Wilson in Hillsdale, MI. Her teaching career allowed her to spend several weeks every summer at the lake fishing and telling tall tales of the catch.

She was an artist and had a talent for painting and was also a creative problem solver. It was often a handcrafted item that fixed whatever issue she was facing. She thought outside the box.

A member of Mini Schnauzer Rescue NW, she owned and fostered many schnauzers over the years. Her love for dogs was outpaced only by her fierce love for her family and friends. There was truly no one like her in the world.

She is survived by her brother Victor "Vic" Otte of Austin, TX; her sister and brother-in-law Sue (Otte) and Del Thatcher of Ridgeville Corners; her niece/goddaughter Amanda (Bob) Manley of Fishers, IN; her nephew Adam (Wade) Thatcher of Muncie, IN; and her great-nieces Amelia Ann and Vivienne Clare Manley of Fishers, IN. She was preceded in death by her parents Morris and Martha and her sister-in-law Helen Otte.

A graveside service for Ann is scheduled for 11:00am on Monday February 19, 2024 at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Ridgeville Corners. Please join us for a potluck luncheon and fellowship to follow at Zion Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Henry County Humane Society. www.ShortFuneralHome.com