Ed was a master painter and decorator by trade. He retired as president and owner of Wottowa Painting Company, Inc. He decorated and painted many churches, theaters, nursing homes, schools, and many government projects. Ed also specialized in fine residential work. He was a true fraternist, who believed in giving everyone a chance of what they could do. He loved working with people and looked for the good in them. Ed was everyone’s friend and he didn’t know a stranger.
Ed was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Cathedral Parish. Among the fraternal organizations Mr. Wottowa belonged to, he was a member of the Catholic Holy Family Society, co-founder, president and chairman of the Board of the Catholic Knights & Ladies of Illinois Country Club, a member of the St. Peter’s Cathedral Holy Name Society, Our Lady of the Snows Foundation, and a third-degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1028.
He was an honorary life member of the Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trade and the Painters Local #85, former president and honorary life member of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America and a former member and chairman of District #58 Joint Trade Board. He was a member of the Serra Club of St. Clair County, the Exchange Club of Belleville, the Downtown Optimist Club, and a former member of the Belleville Senior Citizens Club.
Ed was a federal and state licensed private pilot. He was a member of the Illinois Pilot’s Association, and former member of the Aircraft Owner and Pilots Association. And finally, a former member of the Illinois Police Association, Deputy Coroner and Special Deputy Sheriff of St. Clair County, and a member of the St. Clair County Reserve Deputy Association.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emil F. and Mayme, nee Stetzner, Wottowa; a son, James E. Wottowa; a daughter, Janice Reinhardt; two brothers, Lee (Ruth) Wottowa and Vernon (Dorothy) Wottowa; three sisters, Marie Wottowa, Laura Dare, and a sister in infancy, Mary Wottowa; and two grandchildren, Darrel and Dwight Tweedy.
Surviving are his beautiful childhood sweetheart, best friend, and wife of 75 years, Rose Marie, nee Karban, Wottowa, whom he married on October 15, 1946, at Cathedral; a brother, John “Jack” (Margaret “Peggy”) Wottowa, of Belleville, IL. a daughter, Jean Sturgill of Shiloh, IL; six grandchildren, Sheila (Chad Bramblett) Nolan, Brian (Jill) Oeltjen, Jamie (Stephanie Elfrink) Wottowa, Nick Wottowa, Ryan (Diane) Tweedy, and Sarah Rose Sturgill; eight great-grandchildren, Logan (Kassie) Mueth and Mitchell Nolan, Hunter and Zane Oeltjen, Vivian and Sam Elfrink, and Olivia and James Tweedy; a daughter-in-law, Diane Wottowa of Belleville, IL; a son-in-law, Tom Reinhardt, Sr. of Belleville, IL; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Cathedral or in the form of masses. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, August 19, 2022, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home Belleville, IL, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, August 20, 2022, at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Belleville, IL. A Serra Club ritual, followed by a Knights Columbus ritual will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 20, 2022, at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. John Myler and Fr. Dennis Voss concelebrating.
Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.