Kenneth "Chopper" Ohrtman

On the afternoon of February 28, 2023, Kenneth "Chopper" Dean Ohrtman, age 68, died at home at his acreage in rural Storm Lake after battling cancer. God must have needed help fixing something.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake with a luncheon to follow at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Newell, Iowa. Burial will be at a later date in the Newell Cemetery. Visitation will take place two hours prior to the service at the FUNERAL HOME on Saturday. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. The family asks that attendees dress casually. Please do not send peace lilies as Deb doesn't like them.
Chopper was born in 1955 to Dorothy (Hase) Ohrtman and Harold Ohrtman in Storm Lake, Iowa. He joined older siblings, David and Beverly, at home on the family farm. Younger siblings Duane, Barbara, and Robert completed their family. Chopper was baptized at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Pocahontas, Iowa, where he was later confirmed in 1971. Growing up, he learned to work hard, adapt, make do, and problem solve. Chopper's formal education ended when he earned his GED, but he never stopped learning. He liked nothing more than jumping into a project and figuring it out as he went. He loved to tear things apart to see how they worked, and he didn't want or need anyone's help. Even though he didn't want anyone to help him, he was the first person to help out others. Is it broken? "I can fix that," was his response.
Chopper worked at a variety of jobs that capitalized on his mechanical skills. He was always up for the next adventure or challenge, and if it involved motorcycles, even better. Chop was blessed to meet his travel partner, fellow adventurer, and love-of-his-life, Debra Sue Vohs. They married in 1983, and would have celebrated their 40 year anniversary in October of this year. On one of their first dates, Chopper tore apart a motorcycle, cleaned the parts, and carefully explained each part to her as they put it back together. They traveled together on motorcycles – Harleys were their favorite – through the United States and Canada. They rode two 900 miles day to catch a ferry on the West Coast. They rode to Alaska with a motorcycle pulling a small trailer. They encountered sleet and snow in British Columbia as they rode in the north and blistering heat in the south, and he certainly never wanted to stop for gas.
When Chop and Deb weren't adventuring on the bike, Chopper enjoyed working on their acreage, planting trees, strategizing his next hunt, hunting, enjoying the outdoors, observing wildlife and bird watching. He was a devoted son who valued family. He was tough and kind, spontaneous and an over-planner. He was an avid collector of things that he thought he might need, a loyal friend, and a riveting storyteller. Yep. How did he get his kite out of the tree? What happened when he took the Harley down a logging road in Canada? What about that elk license? So many stories. And they were all true.
Chopper was predeceased by his parents Harold and Dorothy; his brothers David, Duane, and Robert; and his sister Barbara. He is survived by his wife Deb; his sister Bev Rice; nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and many friends.