In Pace Christi

Fr. Ottmar was born on 8 November, 1925, at Rappolz, in Baviera. After primary school, he began a carpenter’s apprenticeship at Weiler, not far from the Comboni community at Mellatz. On 8 November, 1949, he entered the Comboni house at Josefstal, Ellwangen (Baden-Württemberg), as a Brother postulant and also did his novitiate there. He took first vows on 22 May, 1952. In November of the following year, he completed his professional training with the diploma of a master carpenter. On 19 March, 1958, he made his perpetual profession. In the following years, Bro. Ottmar exercised his profession restructuring or building new houses in the DSP, at Josefstal, Milland/Brixen, Mellatz and Neumarkt and, from 1966 to 1969, at Palencia in Spain.

After three years in Spain he was recalled to Ellwangen to help with the building of the farm, the workshops and the new community house at Josefstal. While doing this work, he became seriously ill due to the fine dust from the timber and, consequently, had to give up his beloved profession for good. We must also remember that Bro. Ottmar, besides, having been an excellent carpenter and having worked very hard, also taught many confreres.

In 1974, having recovered from his illness, he began “part two” of his life, working in the Mission Procure at Ellwangen, together with the Procurator, Fr. Karl Mönch. Bro. Ottmar took care of the distribution of the magazine Kontinente and the correspondence with the friends of the mission. Every month he sent out hundreds of handwritten letters to friends and benefactors for their feast days.

His lifestyle may be summed up in two words: precision and punctuality. Just as he carried out his work as a carpenter with great precision, it was impossible to imagine Bro. Ottmar coming late for or missing community prayer. At the age of fifty he took a driving licence to visit personally the men and women collaborators while distributing the magazine Kontinente. Some of his hobbies were marquetry and the flute. Bro. Ottmar was a confrere who was joyful, always happy and trustworthy. He was a man of deep faith and much prayer.
Da Mccj Bulletin n. 258 suppl. In Memoriam, gennaio 2014, pp. 174-175.