Alyce M. Ott

It is with heavy hearts and much sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Alyce M. (Burich) Ott on February 24, 2025. Mom was born to Charles and Mary (Jerabek) Burich on August 16, 1926, in Brillion, WI. Mom was the sixth of seven children, and her older sisters said ‘she was the spoiled one’. Mom spent much of her early life in the Reedsville/Brillion area, attending grade school in Reedsville and high school in Brillion. It was there that she met her future husband. As freshman, ‘I just hated him. He teased me all the time!’. But by the time they were juniors, her feelings about him changed. Mom graduated from Brillion High School, Class of 1944.

After high school, Mom went to work for Clipper City Trucking in Chicago. When her dad got sick, she came back home to Brillion and Mom and Dad’s relationship grew. Mom married her high school sweetheart, Wallace ‘Fritz’ Ott on May 10, 1947.

Mom and Dad had three children while living in Brillion. In 1955 they moved to a farm in Oneida, where they had two more children. In 1966, Mom, Dad and five kids moved to De Pere. No matter where they lived, Mom made wonderful friends, lasting a lifetime. 

Mom worked at Shopko for 22 years, ‘The Toy Lady’. One of the things she was most proud of was the friends she made while working at Shopko - the ‘Shopko girls’ still get together for breakfast every month. 

Mom was a devout Catholic. She and Dad attended morning mass every day for 30+ years. Mom was a proud member of St. Francis Xavier, De Pere, having been a Eucharistic Minister, a member of the Resurrection Choir, and a member of the Altar Rosary Society for over 50 years. Mom was our ‘go to’ for prayers - she spent hours praying every day.

She is survived by her children, Charles (Barb) Ott, Connie (Sid) O’Brien, Gary (Lin) Ott, Steve (Nancy) Ott, Keith (Deb) Ott.

Further survived by her grandchildren, Keri (Dan) Hurley, Kristin (Wade) Challacombe, Erin (Scott) Buraczynski, Kelly (Stephanie) O’Brien, Ryan (Katrina) Ott, Melissa (friend Brandon) Riggs, Nicole Ott; Cory (Rachel) Ott, Kyle (Maggie) Ott, Emily (friend Michael) Ott and great-grandchildren, Emma, Kevin and Matthew Hurley, Henry and Amelia Challacombe, Jade, Alia, Dana and Hope Cameron, Lucas & Ella Riggs, Nolan & Landon Ott.

Also surviving are her sister-in-law Jo Ott, godchildren Darwin Kanter and Carole Burich, and special niece JoAnn Gosz.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Wallace “Fritz” Ott, her parents, her four sisters, two brothers and their spouses, Mary (George) Kanter, Helen (John) Gosz, Julia (Ray) Grasser, Mildred (Ray) Orth, Joe (Alice) Burich and John (Delores) Burich; Dad’s parents Alfred and Elsie Ott, as well as Dad’s brothers, sisters and their spouses. 

Family and friends may visit at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 220 S. Michigan St, De Pere, on Friday, February 28, from 10:30am until 11:45am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00pm with Rev. Mike Ingold officiating. Burial will be private at Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery. 

Our family would like to thank the caregivers at the Courtyard at Bellevue Assisted Living, Rennes Health and Rehab and Unity Hospice for their care of mom.