Otto Ohmart

Otto Ohmart, 86, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Monday, April 30, 1923, in Olive Branch, Ill., to Otto and Susie Trott Ohmart.

He and Edna Dix were married at Granite City, Ill., on April 2, 1950.

He graduated from Mounds Township High School as salutatorian of the class of 1941. He served in the Army Air Force during World War II in the Aleutian Islands, where he was an outpost radio operator. He graduated from Southeast Missouri State University and Kansas State University of Emporia and did postgraduate studies at the Mountain Lake Biological Station of the University of Virginia.

He was a science teacher at Anna-Jonesboro High School and Johnston City High School in Illinois and a member of the Southeast Missouri State University biology department during his last 23 years of teaching. He made a major contribution to the herbarium there with specimens from many places in the United States and Canada. Of particular enjoyment to him were his nature study and plant taxonomy classes. After retirement he was a volunteer at Saint Francis Medical Center for 18 years, considering his service there of highest personal reward.

Preceding him in death were the members of his birth family of mother; father; sister, Louise Stiles; and brother, Clifford Ohmart.

His immediate family survivors include his wife; three daughters and their husbands, Linda (Steve) Hope, Elaine (Tim) Prenger and Susan (Larry) Ruebel; as well as two grandchildren, Kirk Prenger and Katie Prenger.

There will be a visitation from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau. A celebration of his life will be at 3 p.m. at the funeral home, officiated by the Rev. Rodger Kiepe of the Abbey Road Christian Church (DOC). Interment will be at Cape County Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Saint Francis Auxiliary or to the church or charity of the donor's choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.