Otto Stephen “Steve” Will, age 70, of Sioux City died Sunday May 27, 2012 at a Sioux City hospital.
Visitation will be this Wednesday from 4-8pm with the family present from 6-8pm. A Masonic Service led by Triangle Lodge # 643 AF&AM will be held at 6:30pm followed by a Prayer Service at 7:00pm at Augustana Lutheran Church in Sioux City. Graveside services will be held at 11:00am on Thursday May 31, 2012 at Memorial Park Cemetery with Rev. Del Olivier of Augustana Lutheran Church officiating. Online condolences for the family may be made at www.waterburyfuneralserviceinc.com.

Otto was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on January 13, 1942, the son of Rudolph and Elvira “Forsling” Will. He moved to Sioux City as an infant and spent the rest of his life in Sioux City. He attended Sioux City Public Schools and graduated from Central High School mid-year in1960.

Following his graduation, he worked for the Sioux City Water Department and a few years later he became a member of the Sioux City Fire Department where he served as a firefighter for 33 years. Otto served at Station 1, Station 8, and Station 7 in both the old and new locations and he often cooked the meals for his fellow firefighters. Otto was one of the first responders to the crash scene of United Flight 232 in July of 1989.

He was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church, Triangle Lodge #643 AF&AM, Abu- Bekr Shrine Temple, and a former member of the White Horse Mounted Patrol where he handled and rode the trained mule in many parades in Siouxland and throughout the United States. He and his white mule also enjoyed performing tricks and entertaining children and the elderly.

Otto enjoyed gardening, canning, and cooking. His children remember the fun family vacations to the Black Hills, Grand Canyon, Old Tucson AZ, Yellowstone National Park, and Glacier National Park.

He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Collins and husband Drew of Lenexa, Kansas, son Steve Will and wife Megan of Urbandale, Iowa, brother Spencer Will of Sioux City, sister Linda Will-Roussopoulos and husband Dave of Woodbury, Minnesota and six grandchildren.

Otto was preceded in death by his parents and Chester T. Mule.

Honorary pallbearers include Jerry Plathe, Dan Plathe, Lee Hansen, Jon Roupe, Dan Roupe, Lee Dodds, Shane Archer, Dave Roussopoulos, and Benjamin Collins.