Funeral services for Emma Ottmar, 90, of Mott, ND will be Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 10:00 am at the Mott Evangelical Community Church. Rev. Ed Billock will officiate and burial will be at a later date at the Sunnyslope Cemetery in Mott. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:00 pm Monday, March 29 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday morning.


EMMA GUNSCH was born on November 2, 1919 on the family farm north of Burt, ND to Jacob and Katherina (Gruebele) Gunsch. She grew up on the farm and attended Odessa country school through the eigth grade. In 1941, Emma was united in marriage to John Ottmar at the Neuberg Congregational Church. Their first daughter, Claudia was born while John was serving his country during World War II. After his return from the war, they purchased a farm northeast of Mott, where they raised their family.


Emma was active in the Neuberg Congregational Church, Ladies Aide and Choir. Later in life they became members of the Mott Evangelical Community Church in Mott. She was a member of the Hillside Homemakers for 50 years. Emma enjoyed quilting, crocheting and crafts. She spent many hours creating quilts, afghans and crocheted items that now reside in the homes of everyone of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.


Emma passed away at the Good Samaritan Nursing Center in Mott on March 26, 2010 surrounded by her family.


Grateful for having shared in her life are her husband, John, of Mott; son, Maurice and fiance Collette, of Bismarck; daughters, Claudia (Mert) Bentz, of Mott, Sharon Ottmar, of Bismarck, Corliss Laib, of Minot, Mavis (Taylor) Jarnagin, of Durham, NC and LuAnn (Tom) Fries, of Gillette, WY; 7 grandsons, Burnell (Jackie), Kevin (Lesley), Terry (Nicole) and Alan (Darla) Bentz, Donovan (Chauntal) and Damian Laib and Jarred Fries, 7 granddaughters, Joleen (Kurt) Waldbillig, Tosha (Steve) Overby, Dana Laib, Krista (Tyler) New, Janell Fries, Allison and Rachel Jarnagin; 15 great grandchildren, Erika, Justin, Jenessa, Tristen, Ashley, Sydney, Alexis and Chandler Bentz, Jordan, Jarin and Jalen Sprecher, Rylie and Jacob Overby and Brayden and Logyn New; brothers, Rueben and Leo Gunsch; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ben (Bette) Ottmar, Edna Ottmar, Martha Ottmar, Martha Reich and Elizabeth Otto.

Emma was preceded in death by her son, Stanley who was killed in the Vietnam War; brothers, Andrew, Albert, Edward and John Otto and Ben, Ted, Reinhold and Art Gunsch; sisters, Lorentina Hirning, Ella Ottmar and Clara Will.