Carl Otto

Carl Otto, 57, of Oskaloosa, passed away in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico on May 23, 2025. Carl Allen Otto, son of John G. Otto III and Ronica Lee (Waters) Otto, was born October 22, 1967, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While growing up, Carl developed a close relationship with his grandparents, Richard and Helen Waters, at their cottage on Portage Lake in Michigan. He graduated from Grandville High School in 1985, where he played on the hockey team all four years. He continued his education at Michigan State University, graduating in 1990 with a degree in Physical Education. While in college, Carl enjoyed being a baseball umpire and hockey referee for local community league teams. His love of baseball took him to Florida, where he graduated from the Joe Brinkman Umpire School and went on to umpire in the minor leagues for a year. While in Florida, he met the love of his life, Connie Heilman; they were married on September 17, 1998. While living in Florida, he furthered his career opportunities when he completed the apprenticeship program for electricians and received his Journeyman Electrician Certification. In 2007, he began working for Musco Lighting as a Field Technician in Palm Bay, FL, before moving to Charlottesville, VA. In 2012, he relocated to Oskaloosa to serve as a Tech Specialist. He became the Mini Pitch Project Manager (responsible for mini-soccer field production) in 2018. During his time at Musco, Carl continued to further his education by taking online courses, earning his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Project Management from Southern New Hampshire University. Carl was considered a valuable member of the Musco family; he held contractor’s licenses in multiple states, allowing Musco to conduct business in those states. Carl had a passion for a wide range of sports; he enjoyed golf, rock climbing, running, and coaching his sons’ soccer teams in the Mahaska County Soccer Club. He also developed a passion for scuba diving and was a master diver and scuba instructor. He was a member of DAN (Divers Alert Network), and it was on his last scuba diving trip in Mexico that he unexpectedly passed away from natural causes. Carl loved life and his family – he always looked forward to the family’s annual summer vacations when they followed the road wherever it took them. His family includes his wife, Connie Otto of Oskaloosa, IA; his sons, Travis Otto of Ankeny, IA, and Andrew Otto of Oskaloosa, IA; and his father, John Otto of Grandville, MI. Carl was preceded in death by his mother, Ronica Otto, and his grandparents, Richard and Helen Waters and John and Betty Otto. As was his wish, Carl’s body has been cremated. In place of a funeral, there will be a Memorial Dive in Mermet Springs, Illinois, on Memorial Day 2026. Memorial contributions can be made to Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter.

Carl Otto

October 22, 1967 - May 23, 2025