Obituary of Otto G. Wunderlich

WUNDERLICH, Otto G. Age 86 of Horseheads. He was born May 16, 1932, in Marktschorgast, Germany to the late Georg and Margareta (Heinz) Wunderlich and passed away on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at Elcor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Horseheads NY. Otto came to Horseheads in 1952 with his brother, Martin; both were sponsored by their Aunt Babette (Wunderlich) Pfaff. He worked at E. M. Pfaff & Son Inc. as a woodworker before he was drafted into the United States Army in 1956, where he served for two years in an artillery unit. In 1960, he married Renate Herold and they had three children: Ronnie, Dieter and Romana “Mona”. He last worked for Gough Holdings in a maintenance position. He was re-married to Carolyn Kwasney in 1997. He was very passionate about volunteering in church and was a devout member of the Roman Catholic congregation at St. Mary Our Mother in Horseheads. While his children were still in school, he coached a much beloved soccer team where he was an inspirational leader. He had a passion for building furniture and spent a lot of time bonding with his family. Otto extensively traveled around Europe and US, returning home to visit family and to explore new places. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by Renate and Carolyn; his sisters, Anni, Anna and Marie; and his brother, Martin. He is survived by his three children, Ronnie, Dieter and Romana (Mona); his six grandchildren Alan, David and Dieter “Mark”; Samantha, Kira, and Jacob; and one great-grandchild, Everett. Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at the Barber Funeral Home, 413 S. Main St., Horseheads on Thursday, December 27, 2018 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Prayers will be held at the funeral home on Friday, December 28, 2018 at 9:30 am. Otto’s Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 am at St. Mary Our Mother Catholic Church, 816 W. Broad St., in Horseheads. Committal prayers and interment with military honors will follow at St. Mary Our Mother’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may remember Otto with memorials to Chemung County Humane Society & SPCA, 2435 State Road 352 Elmira, NY, 14903 or to St. Mary Our Mother in Horseheads online at http://stmaryourmother.com/OnlineGiving.php .