Otto Laabs

Otto W. Laabs Jr., 75, of Saranac formerly of South Haven, died on November 25, 2011 at Spectrum Butterworth in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was born on March 10, 1936 to Otto and Irene (Hinz) Laabs in South Haven, Michigan. Otto was a 1954 graduate of South Haven High School. He also received his Bachelors and Masters degree from Western Michigan University. Otto taught school for 45 years in Saranac Community Schools. He was the coach for the golf team for 37 of those years. Otto also taught drivers training and recorded stats for the football and basketball teams for 52 years. Otto taught school in Vermontville for 2 years prior to teaching at Saranac. Otto was a member of the Saranac Lions Club, the Michigan Sages and the Michigan Educational Association.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his sisters – Betty Dykstra of South Haven, MI and Johanna Carlock of Paw Paw, Michigan. Three nephews – Ken Dykstra of South Haven, Michigan, Keith (Tammy) Dykstra of Hartford, Michigan, Robert (Valarie) Carlock of Lawton, Michigan, two nieces – Karen (Mike) Verdonk, Kyle (John) Teichow of Allendale, Michigan, 10 great nieces and nephews, and 9 great great nieces and nephews. Otto was a God parent for several children who also survives.

Memorial service will be on Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church with Rev Robert Linstrom officiating. Visitation will be prior to the services from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A memorial service will also be held at Saranac High School Auditorium on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. Memorial Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.

The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven, 637-0333.