Alfred "Al" Ottenbreit was born on April 12, 1935 in the Grayson District of Saskatchewan, the son of Frank and Caroline (nee Exner) Ottenbreit. He went to school and worked on the farm, but left home at a young age. Al worked various jobs until joining Her Majesty's Royal Canadian Navy in 1955, where he served until 1961. He served in various roles in Halifax, Winnipeg, Churchill, and on various ships, which gave him the opportunity to work around the world. However, he remembered fondly his Navy Career on the Minesweeper HMCS Fortune. Al married Patricia Seitz in 1961 and the couple lived in Regina where their oldest son, Garnet was born in 1962, and son Greg followed in 1963. Al worked as a milkman and later at Dominion Bridge Metal. Al always had an entrepreneurial spirit. The family moved to Yorkton where he started the waste disposal business in 1963. In 1966, the family moved to Weyburn so that Al could expand the business and Grant was born there in the same year. In 1970, the family returned to Yorkton and Glenna was born in 1971. Al remained with the company until 1993 when he retired from Ottenbreit Sanitation Services. Al always had a love of the land, and although he bought some hunting and planting land near Endeavor in the 80's, he sold it and bought five quarters in his home area south of Grayson/Dubuc in 1990. He and Pat renovated the old farm house, fixed up the buildings and moved to the farm in 1993 where he grain farmed and raised a few cattle and pigs. He retired again, sold the farm and moved to Yorkton in 2003, where he remained until the time of his passing. Al passed away peacefully, in Yorkton Regional Health Centre Palliative Care, with members of his family at his side on January 19, 2014 after a short battle with his health. Al impacted many people, blessed many lives and will be missed. Al was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Caroline (Exner) Ottenbreit; his sisters, Julia Hickie and Gertrude Lukey; his nephew, Steven Ottenbreit and niece, Dinah Slobodzian; his grandson, Brayden Ottenbreit; his brother-in-law, August Hickie and sisters-in-law, Lorraine Ottenbreit and Mabel Forer. He leaves to mourn his passing and cherish his memory, his son Garnet and wife Glenda, their daughters Megan (husband, Cam and their son, Patrick) and Hilary (boyfriend, Keith); his son Greg and wife Leone, their daughters Katelin and Rayanne (husband, Austin); his son Grant and wife Melinda, their sons Turner, Brodie, and Grant's son, Travis (fiancé Holly and their daughters Isabella and Willow); his daughter Glenna and husband Wybo, their children Petra, Onijdes and Annelise; Pat Ottenbreit; brothers Dave (Linda), Orville (Bev), brother-in-law Bob, as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and good friends. The Prayer Vigil Service was held on Friday, January 24, 2014 from St. Gerard's Roman Catholic Church in Yorkton, SK with Father Francis Hengen officiating. The pianist, Allison Kruger, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "I Know That My Redeemer Lives", "Psalm 23" and "Amazing Grace". The reader was granddaughter, Katelin Ottenbreit. Al's granddaughter, Rayanne Krahenbil shared one selection, "How Great Thou Art" and his son, Greg shared words of tribute and eulogy. The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, January 25, 2014 from St. Gerard's Roman Catholic Church with Father Francis Hengen as the Celebrant. The pianist, Pamela Yaremko, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, "Christ Be Our Light", "Psalm 27", "We Will Rise Again", "On Eagle's Wings", "Song of the Angels" and "Though the Mountains May Fall". The readers were granddaughters, Megan Sheldon and Katelin Ottenbreit, the cross bearer was granddaughter, Petra Ottenbreit-Born and the gift bearers were grandsons, Turner and Brodie Ottenbreit. A reception followed in St. Gerard's Parish Complex and Al's son, Greg shared words of tribute and eulogy. The Cremation Committal took place in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Al's son, Garnet Ottenbreit and granddaughter, Hilary Ottenbreit serving as the urn bearers. Friends so wishing may make donations in Al's memory to the Brayden Ottenbreit Close Cuts for Cancer, Local Cancer Initiatives Program to enhance the lives of those using the Palliative Care Program at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre (cheques may be made payable to "The Health Foundation". Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
