Jo

Marian “Jo” Otta, 99, of rural Garwin, passed away on Friday, February 4th, 2022 at Premier Estates of Toledo. A Celebration of Life by the family, will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the American Legion in Marshalltown . Memorials may be directed to the Iowa River Hospice Home. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Jo and her family. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Marian Harris was born on June 4th, 1922 in Montour to Riley and Dorothy Downs Harris. She graduated from Montour High School in 1939 and went on to earn a degree in Geology at the University of Wyoming, graduating in 1949. She also attended business college in Marshalltown. During World War II, Jo lived in Washington D.C. and worked at a job that procured petroleum. On October 15th, 1951, Jo was united in marriage to Lawrence Otta. Together, Jo and Lawrence worked on their dairy farm. Jo was a member of the Montour Methodist Church and enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting mushrooms, reading, cooking, canning, lifetime Iowa Hawkeye fan and loved spending time with her granddaughters. Lawrence and Jo received the FHA Farm Family of the Year award in 1972 and the Iowa Angling Award in 1985 for catching a 2 pound 4 ounce crappie. Jo is survived by her daughters: Nancy Otta from Garwin and Kathy (Steve) Knickerbocker of Marshalltown. Grandchildren: Julianne Mason of New York City, Kristine Mason of Napa, California and Elizabeth Knickerbocker of Ankeny. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Zoe, Bea, Nina, Annabelle and Scarlet. Jo is preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence; son, Tony Otta; sister, Phyllis Fox and her parents, Riley and Dorothy.