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R
Roy Wilson posted a condolence
Monday, December 3, 2018
I took several classes from Ottis while a graduate student at the University of Denver. He was also my MA thesis advisor. He was an engaging person and very helpful to me.
M
Myron B. Allen posted a condolence
Thursday, November 15, 2018
I wish peace and strength to all members of Ottis's family. I first met him when he served as acting head of computer science at the University of Wyoming during the mid-1980s. That was when I began to appreciate the many contributions that the Rechard family has made to the University of Wyoming. Ottis was a great scientist and a wise academic leader.
Myron Allen, Professor
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
University of Wyoming
L
Lewis posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
I'm thinking of you in your time of sorrow. May we praise Jehovah God for the resurrection hope that He has promised. Jesus Christ assures us of this future blessing that is soon to come. John 5:28,29 May God's promise comfort you.
P
Paul A Rechard posted a condolence
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
To those gathered to celebrate the life of Ottis W. Rechard
I am sorry I cannot personally speak to you today, but it would require much planning for me at my age to travel such a long distance from Laramie, Wyoming. My brother Ottis truly loved his cabin on the St Joe River so it is fitting that you are gathered near there.
Let me relate several moments we shared as we grew up in Laramie in the 1930s and early 1940s.
Our father played the clarinet in dance bands to help pay for college at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. After receiving his PhD in Mathematics, a teaching professorship brought our father to the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Because he enjoyed music, our father encouraged Ottis to play the violin at an early age, and they began playing duets together. I looked up to Ottis and decided I also wanted to play the violin. Our father convinced Ottis’ violin teacher, Professor Molzer, to take me on. Besides giving lessons, Professor Molzer also made violins, and he made one for Ottis and me. But while Ottis loved practicing the violin, I did not. Professor Molzer once told me in disgust that I could not distinguish the notes on a page to save my soul. Nonetheless, I was drug around Laramie to play at events to share in their love of music. While the love of playing an instrument never rubbed off on me, try as Ottis might, I did learn the joy of music. Perhaps it was because I was always relieved I did not have to play.
Scouting was one area where Ottis was more successful in teaching his younger brother. Ottis greatly enjoyed Scouting and ultimately reached the rank of Life. Ottis encouraged me to join the Boy Scouts and I did for a while. One of my first activities was to attend summer Scout camp in Colorado with Ottis. I was working on the first rank of Tenderfoot at the time. Ottis spent hours prior to camp going over the requirements so that I would enjoy the experience and advance quickly.
First aid is an important aspect of each Scouting rank and Ottis drilled the skills into me. This drilling was fortunate for when I later went on a camping adventure, one of the boys was injured. He had a big cut with lots of bleeding. Although older scouts were with us, I was the one ready and able to help tend to his injury.
Much like practicing the violin, Ottis constantly practiced the skills you need to master in Scouting. He enjoyed practicing so much that when I came home with a broken arm some months later, he insisted on practicing on splinting my arm and preparing a sling first rather than going to get our Mother. It was only when Mother came home later that I got to go to the doctor.
A big part of Scouting is camping and a big part of camping at that time was fishing, especially if you lived in Wyoming. Fishing was also an activity that our father had taken up. Many summer weekends were spent on the streams around Laramie with our father. A favorite spot was the Encampment River, which feeds the North Platte on the west side of the Snowy Range. Dad and Ottis always wanted to be on the river early, so we would leave at 4 am. After a long day of fishing, we always enjoyed ice cream, sodas, or milk shakes at the Sugar Bowl Drugstore in the small town of Encampment. Although stoicism was a large part of manhood while growing up in the 1930s, fishing allowed me to see an approachable aspect of my father and brother Ottis.
In 1942, I started attending the University of Wyoming, while still in high school just as Ottis had done three years earlier. Although I did join the Sigma Nu Fraternity like Ottis, most of our interests had diverged by this time. Ottis loved mathematics, I loved engineering.
Following an older brother gives you much confidence. Through Ottis, I observed the importance of practicing: both the consequence of not practicing the violin and the consequence of practicing first aid. In the latter case, confidently providing first aid to a boy was satisfying. While I was not always encouraged directly as we grew older, just knowing that Ottis had accomplished something, contributed to my confidence in tackling new activities in life. Watching Ottis also gave me the opportunity to see farther down life’s paths and knowledgeably choose a path of my own.
I was fortunate to have had Ottis as an older brother. May the Lord, mighty God, grant Ottis peace and escort his spirit home.
D
Debbie Wilkins posted a condolence
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Ottis was a beloved and valued member of Southminster Presbyterian Church here in Beaverton, Oregon. He will definitely be missed. My husband and I camp on the upper St. Joe River every summer and at Ottis's invitation visited him a few years ago at the family cabin. What a special place. He clearly loved his time there as well as his family. My condolences to your entire extended family. Ottis will be missed. He was a very nice, thoughtful man.
M
Margie Gannon posted a condolence
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Always so kind and generous loved visiting with him on so many subjects. He always made you feel that what you had to say was important. Condolences to his family
B
Benjamin Thornes posted a condolence
Sunday, August 5, 2018
Thank you for the wonderful memories! I loved exploring Black Prince Creek with your grandchildren. You teaching me to fly fish down on the river taught me so much more than how to catch a rainbow Trout. Mostly, thank you for being a kind and generous soul.
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