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Visitation:
Tuesday, November 30, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00
p.m. at Peasley Funeral Home
Service:
A Celebration of Life will begin at 11:00 a.m. on
Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at the Jefferson Street
Christian Church in Lincoln.
Funeral home:
Peasley Funeral Home, Lincoln
Obituary
Wayne K. "Gus" Otto, 75, of Lincoln,
passed away on Friday, November 19, 2021, at OSF St.
Joseph Hospital in Bloomington.
Visitation will be held at Peasley Funeral Home on
Tuesday, November 30, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00
p.m.
A Celebration of Life will begin at 11:00 a.m. on
Wednesday, December 1, 2021, at the Jefferson Street
Christian Church in Lincoln.
Burial with military rights and Honor Guard will be
at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield on
Thursday, December 2, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.
Wayne Kenneth Otto was born July 11, 1946, in
Wausau, Wisconsin, the son of Harvey John Otto and
Mary Louise Nugent Otto. The day he was born, the
nurses in the hospital referred to him as “Gruntin’
Gus,” and the nickname “Gus” stuck. Gus was united
in marriage to Nancy Kay Sparks on May 19, 1979, at
the Lincoln Christian Church. She survives.
Gus is also survived by three daughters: Shannon
(Chad) Lockhart of Beaumont, TX, Amber (David)
Brainard of Lincoln, and Heather (Joe Archer) Otto
of Oceanside, CA; two grandchildren: Zachary Wayne
Engelmann and Teaghan Jolane Archer; one sister:
Karen (Bill) Cole and many, many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his
best buddy and loyal canine companion, Gustopher
Begley.
Gus moved to Lincoln his sophomore year and
graduated from Lincoln Community High School in
1964. Although he was not yet 18, with his parents’
authorization he immediately enlisted into the
United States Marine Corps. Gus proudly served our
country during the Vietnam War and would still say
it was his greatest honor. He was a lifelong member
of the VFW and former Commander of Lincoln Post 1756
Cronin Brothers Post from 1970-1971 and again from
1979 - 1980.
When Gus returned home from Vietnam,
he held positions at various businesses including
Pittsburg Plate & Glass, Myers Industries, Lincoln
City Police, and General Manager at Frank’s
Oldsmobile GMC. In the late 60s and early 70s, he
owned and operated the bars, Sugar Shack and Gus &
Dan’s. While working, he pursued a degree in
Contractual Law at Lincolnland Community College and
then Sangamon State University.
Gus started working at Caterpillar in
1978 - a factory job that evolved into an IT career
and a relationship that would span more than 30
years.
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He was considered a true visionary in
research & development and had early involvement in
bringing video streaming and conferencing technology
to the world.
In 2000, he was recognized as one of
the top 100 IT leaders in the world, and in 2001, he
received honors and an award for being considered
one of the top 10 IT leaders in the world.
Even though Gus fell in love with the “computer
world," he remained true to his first love... pool.
He was known as a "legendary" pool player who, in
earlier years, traveled the country shooting pool.
In later years, he got a lot of joy from mentoring
the younger players and passing on what he referred
to as his “legacy.” He held membership in both the
American Pool Association and Billiard Congress of
America. He was the BCA league operator in Logan
County from 2007-2013. Along with his wife, Nancy,
and longtime friend, Dave Bixler, Gus owned Legends
Billiards Bar from 2007-2010. Following that, Gus
owned and operated Pool Hall Junkies - an elite pool
club intended to provide a space for serious pool
players to perfect their game and foster more
positive relationships.
Gus lived in Lincoln for most of his life. He and
his family relocated to Morton in 1989 and then to
New Holland in 1990. He served as Mayor, Chief of
Police and Justice of the Peace in New Holland from
1996-1999 before returning to Lincoln.
Gus was firmly planted in his Christian faith and
was led to become an ordained minister in 2013. It
was through this process that Gus reaffirmed his
relationship with God.
Gus spent his golden years enjoying nature, taking
regular trips to the parks around Lincoln with his
wife and dog. He also enjoyed feeding the squirrels
and birds, researching everything online, any time
spent with his family, trying new restaurants and
“stirring the pot” on Facebook.
Gus truly appreciated life and everyone who came
into his.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you bring
any photos to share and stories to write down, so
the memories of Gus continue to live on.
Memorials may be made to Gus's family.
Final arrangements are entrusted with Peasley
Funeral Home of Lincoln.
Pallbearers for the services: Joe Archer, David
Brainard, Zach Engelmann, Vince Long, Jim Norman,
and Dustin Tibbs. Honorary Pallbearers: Dave Bixler,
Bill Cole, Mark Humbert, Chad Lockhart, Gary Sparks,
and Tom Sparks.
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