John Kottman, 88, died peacefully Thursday, March 13th at the Solon Care Center surrounded by his family.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 17th at Zion Lutheran Church with Rev. Jennifer Lutz officiating. Graveside committal with military honors will be conducted at 2 p.m., Monday at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City.
John was born March 30, 1925 in Hampton, Iowa, the son of Elmer and Dorothea Bokemeier Kottman. He was a graduate of Sheffield High School and received his bachelors, masters and PhD from the University of Iowa. John served in the Army Air Corps in Italy from 1944 to 45 and was a top turret gunner on a B-24 Liberator. On August 21, 1949, John married Helen Carroll at the First Presbyterian Church in Atlantic, Iowa.
John was a professor at the University of Iowa in the School of Journalism and the College of Business. He was a gifted teacher and was honored by business students as their “outstanding professor” for two years in a row. John retired in 1987.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and a charter member of Christ the King Lutheran Church.
John was a gardener and landscaper, planting over 127 trees and shrubs on their acreage. When he was in the military in Italy, while his comrades went elsewhere while on leave, John would attend the opera — he loved the opera, he especially cherished the sounds of Verdi, Wagner and Puccini. Most important to John was his family.
John is survived by his wife Helen and their two sons, Steven John Kottman (Carol Hartman) of Solon and James Richard (Genie) Kottman of Cedar Rapids; two grandsons, Sean and Christopher Kottman; his brother, Richard of Ames; two nieces, Tracey (Kevin) Wood and Camilla Kottman; great nephew Jonathan Wood; and Anne Kottman of Ames.
He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter-in-law, Karen.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church or The Metropolitan Opera.
http://www.lensingfuneral.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=88662#/obituaryInfo
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