• VISITATION:  Friday, April 14, 2023 –  10am-12pm  St. Stephen’s Oak Creek (1441 W. Oakwood Rd.)
• MASS: Friday, April 14, 2023 –  12pm  St. Stephen’s Oak Creek (1441 W. Oakwood Rd.)

Otto G. Satula

Otto George Satula passed away at the age of 95, on March 27, 2023, surrounded by his loving and devoted wife of 71 years, Joan (nee Sciortino), and his loving children. Otto met the love of his life and soulmate at a chance meeting, where it blossomed into a beautiful love story. Together they have five children, George (Wendy), Keith (Kirsten), Brian (Susan), Scott (Susan), and Chery (James) Walsh, with 13 grandchildren, Gregg, Angela, Kevin, Jamie, Brian Jr., Scott, Tina, Kyle, Steven, Jeffrey, Stephanie, Nathan, Matthew, and 18 great-grandchildren, Xavier, Athena, Lillith, Isabella, Kataryna, Drake, Jaxx, Ryder, Francesca, Hayden, Evelyn, Cassidy, Pierson, Tegan, Breleigh, Parker, Addilyn, and Tessa. He is further survived by in-laws Mike and Marian, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Otto was born November 14, 1927, in Milwaukee (Bay View), from immigrant parents coming from Lithuania, George and Elizabeth Satula, who preceded him in death. He was the youngest child and only son having five sisters, Donna Stolla, Alvina Potrykus, Sadie Dempsey, Meda Roszina, and Ruth Williams, who all have also preceded him in death.
Living in Bay View, Otto loved the Great Lakes, and at 16 years old and with the permission from his parents, he became a seaman in the Merchant Marines. At just 18 years old, he continued to the open water as a seaman in the United States Navy, from 1945 to 1948. Achieving the rank of Radarman Third Class, he worked on the bridge protecting his ship and crew, the U.S.S. Chikaskia, from enemy ships during immediate post-World War II era. Later in life, he continued his love of the water on Lake Michigan as a pleasure boater as a member of the South Milwaukee Yacht Club, where he was elected commodore in 1969.

During Otto’s time in the U.S. Navy, he traveled around the world three times, crossed the Equator six times, he traveled through the Suez Canal 16 times. In 1946, Otto was part of Operation Crossroads, where nuclear bomb testing was conducted in the Bikini Atoll (Marshall Islands). As a veteran of the U.S. Navy, he always had a special place in his heart for our military heroes, he supported the work of the Veteran’s Administration, Wounded Warriors Project, and the Tunnel-To-Towers Foundation.

From his humble beginnings during the Depression, Otto became a successful leader, entrepreneur and businessman. Freshly out of the U.S. Navy with a background in radar electronics, Otto was interested in the electronics field and in the future of television. In 1951, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Television Engineering. He worked at General Motors Corp/AC Spark Plug and simultaneously began his own business in television. Soon after, he developed a partnership with some of his former associates at AC Spark Plug, started an electronics contracting business, in St. Francis, and he became the president of the company.

He moved the company to Oak Creek, and later went on in the construction field to build many buildings and managed a large portfolio of other properties. For the City of Oak Creek, Otto was appointed to the city’s Planning Commission and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. He was always looking forward to the next idea and the next project. Otto was a talented, self-made man, and was a great visionary – he did it all his way!

Otto focused his attention on loving guidance for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Besides being a pleasure boater, he enjoyed flying a small plane out of General Mitchell Field. His hobbies included golfing, scuba diving, traveling, and going to the casino. Otto really enjoyed spending time designing, drawing, and drafting many building ideas and projects.

Funeral services for Otto will be held on Friday, April 14, 2023, at Saint Stephen’s Church, at 1441 W. Oakwood Rd., in Oak Creek. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon, at the church, with a mass service immediately following the visitation. Otto will be interred at Forest Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Oak Creek following a military honor salute.  In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Wounded Warrior’s Project and the Tunnel-To-Towers Foundation, in Otto’s name.