Pete R. Otto

1945 - 2021

Pete R. Otto, formerly of Marysville/Yuba City, CA, passed away on August 25, 2021. Pete was born in San Fernando, CA, in 1945 to Alfred Eric (Pete) Otto and Dorothy (Dottie) Ley Otto. He lived in Marysville and Yuba City for most of his life. Pete moved to Petaluma, CA, in 2017.

Pete is survived by his wife, Mary (Mimi) Otto of Petaluma; daughter, Lisa Otto Hobson (Eric) of Novato, CA; stepchildren, Jeremy Finnerty (Jill) of Santa Rosa, CA, and Kelly Finnerty Patt (Chesed) of El Segundo, CA; 6 grandchildren, Jake Hobson 18, Cameron Hobson 15, Haley Finnerty 18, Bodhi Finnerty 14, Connor Patt 11, and Brady Patt 8; his uncle Harry Ley of San Diego, CA; and many cousins.

Pete attended Marysville High School and graduated from high school at San Rafael Military Academy. He went on to graduate from Chico State University majoring in Political Science and obtained his Ph.D. in Business Administration and Business Psychology from Columbia Pacific University. He attended Lincoln School of Law in Sacramento.

At a young age Pete started his own security and investigative business and later became a police officer with Yuba City Police Department. Following his education, he began to work as an adjuster with Cal-Farm (Farm Bureau) Insurance Co. where he was promoted to Regional Claims Manager. Pete left Cal-Farm Insurance to start his own investigative business (Castle Group) and later owned Shasta Cascade, an independent insurance adjuster business. He started a desk top publishing business called California Claims Pro Publishing. Pete authored a study guide for taking the California Independent Insurance Adjuster Licensing Exam. He had the latter business until his retirement in 2018.

Pete was an accomplished artist and did pencil portraits, pen and ink drawings of Victorian homes as well as wood carving. Pete's uncles and father were in the construction business and he learned the trade of construction from his father and uncles. He knew plumbing, electrical installation, cabinet making, and all facets of building. He learned the building trade at an early age by working for AE Otto Construction in Marysville.

Pete was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was good humored, good natured, sweet and thoughtful. He will be missed by his family and friends.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Pete at The Cottages of Petaluma, 576 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, CA, on Sunday, September 26th, 2021, from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Payran St., Petaluma, CA 94954.