Karolyn Marie Otto September 23, 1932 January 12, 2025 At 92 years old, Karolyn Marie Otto left for her heavenly home on January 12, 2025. She defied the odds many times before, surviving things that only The General could. "The General" was one of many nicknames. Most of her family knew her affectionately as "Midge" and when she was young, she was her moms "Honey Girl." Born during the Great Depression, the fifth of seven children, to Winnie (Grubbe) and Harvey Otto, Karolyn grew up in Big Rapids, Michigan, helping her mother with chores at home and caring for her younger siblings. This is where she honed her keen systems skills that later earned her a military nickname; good boss characteristics like task management, cleanliness and attention to detail, keeping order and giving orders, and generally ensuring things run like clockwork. Its also where she developed a love of baking a skill that became her signature. After graduating high school, she worked in Grand Rapids and taught school in North Dakota before she lived in Detroit, working at Michigan Bell for many years. While in that area, she enjoyed time with her brothers families. After her mothers death she moved north with her father, a retired pastor, to care for him. Thats when she made herself a fixture at Ferris State University in the Human Resources Department for over 27 years as an Employment Specialist, lauded for her professionalism, before accepting an early retirement in 1994. Not long after, Karolyn developed macular degeneration and was declared legally blind. Despite this, she learned to get on just fine without complaint taking buses to stores and appointments, creating work-arounds for tasks and taking care of her affairs until she required help from others, help she insisted on compensating. She was spectacularly determined. With a little help, she lived independently until her 91st year. Loving children but not having any of her own, Karolyn adored generations of nieces and nephews, doling out special times and baked goods whenever she could. When she moved closer, she became part of the family to sister Kaye and her husband Sam, spending with them many weekends, holidays, and various family events, sometimes babysitting and always "spoiling" their kids. She gave the gift of treats, laughter, and good memories to all those she cared for. She often remembered others birthdays and special occasions. People were her priority and she made life-long friends wherever she went. She loved to socialize, to exchange letters and recipes, and to visit for hours in person and on the telephone. Her Tuesday Lunch Bunch of smart, fun ladies, was a weekly highlight for many years. Karolyn enjoyed crafts and decorating for any occasion. Planning was second nature she had to make plans or know plans, giving her astute advice whenever asked. Plans for outfits and outings, house cleanings, special events, dinners, parties, and more. She never failed to create games or other amusements to make so many events fun for everyone. Karolyn was a delightful storyteller and an original comedic talent, using the "set-up" in unsuspecting ways. She often hinted in her wry tone for something she wanted or wanted someone else to do. Shed sometimes pen a silly poem and stick it in a birthday card or leave it on an answering machine. Gag gifts were common but never overboard. She could work a joke out in her head and wait days or even weeks for the perfect moment, then drop it on an unsuspecting audience. She was so stealthy at this that many probably had no idea she had created and memorized the words she would say. She similarly planned her own fun, like when she practiced dancing at age 82 something she had never done before in anticipation of her nieces wedding reception, so she could dance with each one of her nephews and great-nephews, which surprised and delighted everyone there. She played piano when she was younger, loved to sing, and found joy listening to piano and vocal music throughout her life. Her favorite colors were blue and purple. She liked lilacs, roses, butterflies, birds, angels, and popcorn. She liked new experiences and to learn new things. In 1985, she was one of the first in her department to learn software and to work on a computer. Once she had new knees, she enjoyed daily walks, probably to stay fit enough to go on her cherished extended shopping trips to Grand Rapids. She disliked stewed carrots, travel, and pets. Even the touch of fur sent her into a tizzy - the result, she recently quipped, from a mysterious cat trauma in her youth. Enjoying sweets is an understatement for her. Her favorites were maple-frosted cinnamon rolls, milk chocolate, lemon lush, carrot cake, mackinaw island fudge ice cream, and various desert bars. She would often brag that she kept all of her teeth with good hygiene and was surprised herself, considering how many sweets she ate. Karolyn missed nothing, was exceptionally sharp and quick-thinking. Like most of her siblings, she could seem stern to strangers. Once people knew her, they found her to be warm, self deprecating, generous, grateful, humble, loving, and jovial. She was a consummate Kidder and Good Sport. Her famous sense of humor and dry delivery of a gag was a staple at her office, with friends, and with family. She was a woman of faith, earnestly working to keep her heart correct. She believed that honesty and good will was godly. She didnt judge; all started out on equal footing with her and she gave them the benefit of the doubt when they disappointed her. More times than not, she loved decent people unconditionally. Though she didnt speak about it, she lived her life very closely to Matthew chapter 6, keeping her religious devotion private. After surviving heart attacks and blood poisoning, she stated that verse 33 was her new favorite as she felt a beneficiary of Gods grace. If there has ever been a "prayer warrior" it was her. Results proved her prayer batting average considerably miraculous. Donating time to people in need, showing up to cook or clean for those enduring hard times, visiting elderly people in nursing homes, and volunteering for hospice are other ways she served people. Each month she gave money to a charitable organization or to someone she knew needed the help. She lived meagerly but her tithe was always more generous than what scripture stipulated. Karolyn, or Aunt Midge to many of us, retained her positive attitude and good humor through the toughest of times, right up until the final days of her life. She was truly one-of-a-kind and many, many people loved her. She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her. Except, perhaps, for her high school archenemy, who ended up sharing a room with her for a week in the nursing home. Karolyn "Midge" was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Keith "Keeter", Kenneth, Kalvin "Punk", Katherine "Tillie", Karl, and Kaye. Funeral Services will be conducted on Friday, January 24, 2025, 1:00 P.M. at Daggett Gilbert Funeral Home, Big Rapids. Visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. until the time of service. She will be laid to rest at Chippewa Lake Cemetery.