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Born in Delaware, Ottie grew up in Washington, NC before being captured by a wanderlust that would lead him to the rugged beauty of Sitka and the Alaskan Southeast. He found a berth on the F/V Donna Lou, followed by the Aloha and then the Lindy before securing a position aboard the schooner Lindy. While in Sitka he met his wife, and they purchased the F/V Adeline together before moving to Wrangell and becoming homesteaders. Ottie continued to fish the Adeline for nearly two decades, additionally purchasing and fishing on the F/Vs Nephi, North Wind, and Lehi.

Ottie was an eminently concerned and active proponent of fisherman's needs, and was a major driving force for the development and expansion of Wrangell’s fishing industry. He served on the Port Commission for many years and was a principle advocate behind both Heritage Harbor and the Marine Service Center shipyard.
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Yet in the face of so many time-consuming projects both at home and for the community, Ottie found time to be a husband and father, as well as a neighbor to everyone he could meet. His boats were recognized far and wide with a call over a VHS that never quite got the names right, and many welcomed the sound of his Kabota tractor arriving with a plow after a heavy snow. Few were the days he couldn't be found speaking with someone along the dock, asking about their fishing, or how their boat was running, or if they needed any extra bait. He will be forever missed. 

Submitted by son, Ben Florschutz