Rev. Robert E. Otto, 76, whose listening skills and compassion helped him counsel grieving families, died Tuesday in his Oak Lawn home. Born in Detroit to conservative Lutheran parents, Rev. Otto naturally fit his role as a Lutheran pastor and chaplain, said his brother, Rev. Ray Otto. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1945 and served as a pastor of the Lutheran Church in Jessup, Iowa. But he will be remembered most for his many years as a chaplain, his brother said. Rev. Otto was director of chaplain services at Anna State Hospital in Anna, Ill., and, in 1976, became chaplain at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn. Retiring in 1988, Rev. Otto served as pastoral counselor and assisted preaching in many Chicago-area churches. He had served recently as chairman of the Chicago Chaplains Association and read voraciously to keep up to date about new educational and psychological techniques to help him in his work, his brother said. “Bob never had any ambivalence about his professional work,” his brother said. “He enjoyed it very much and always reached out to people.” Besides his brother, survivors include three sons, Robert Jr., Kevin and Mike; two sisters, Ruth Feirich and Grace Rennegarbe; and four grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 9401 S. Oakley Ave.
