We Remember
OTTENBREIT, Siegfried
November 8, 1927 — October 27, 2022
The family of Siegfried “Sig” Ottenbreit wish to announce his passing on October 27, 2022, at the age of 94 years. Sig is survived by his wife Mildred “Millie” Ottenbreit; his four children, Brenda Clark (Rick), Lorna Low (Dick), Brian (Jan), and Lyle (Debbie); as well as 8 grandchildren Mike (Erin), Lisa, Scott (Carrie), Brad (Ang), Melissa (Chris), Katie (Wolter), Rachel, Curtis; plus 5 great-grandchildren Lia, Mackenzie, Bennett, Cassandra, and Christine; and 1 great-great-grandchild, Dominic. Numerous other family members and friends will also be missing his presence.
Sig was born on the family farm in Grayson, SK, on November 8, 1927. He met his wife, Millie (née Baumgartner), in 1946, and they were married on June 21, 1949, in Killaly, SK. This past June, they celebrated 73 years of marriage. Sig was a retired school teacher who taught, as well as coached teams, in numerous schools in Saskatchewan before moving to the Okanagan, settling in Kelowna in 1959. He taught school and coached in Rutland, Westbank, and then the Mt. Boucherie area before retiring in 1984, after a 37-year teaching career. He was active with little league baseball, coaching and umpiring teams in the Kelowna area for years. After retirement, he worked part-time for Wells Gray Tours as a tour guide, making many memorable trips, along with Millie, to numerous locations in Western Canada and the United States. After hanging up his tour guide hat, he set up a heritage classroom in the former Central Elementary School, where he welcomed local teachers and their classes (as well as anyone else) who wanted to learn about and experience what the one-room classrooms of the past were like. Sig was also active with the Club 17 accordion nights and spent many, many hours at home listening to his years and years of polka music that he taped, along with his record collections.
There will be no service at this time, but will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Sig had requested that those wishing to, may donate to a charity of their choice.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
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Condolences
I am saddened to hear of Mr. Ottenbreit’s passing. He was my art teacher at Mount Boucherie when I attended from 79-84. He was always one of my favourite teachers, always kind and always smiling. Farewell Mr. O.
This is a sad day for me, Mr. Ottenbreit to his students was one of the best and most liked teachers that I was lucky enough have at George Pringle High School. I know a number of people who went on his bus tour to Lake Tahoe. I guess I am old enough to refer to him as Sieg, he was such a gentle soul never raising his voice, took pride in his students. Mildred, Brenda and family, I know how proud Sieg was of you all and a great dad as he was a teacher, our thoughts are with you and I know he will be missed by you all,
Grant (Bud) and Toni Maddock and the rest of the Maddock family that were lucky enough to know Sieg and to have him as a teacher..
Our condolences go out to Aunt Mildred and Aunt Evelyn and all my Ottenbreit cousins . We are saddened of his passing. It was so nice to spend an afternoon with Uncle Sig when we visited Kelowna a few years back . He had such an interesting life and will be missed by family and friends. I have quite a few old pictures of Uncle Sig but I don’t think I there is one without his “bow-tie”. He reminded me so much of my dad; his movements, the way he spoke, his thoughts. Cherish the memories and our thoughts are with you all. Rick & Ellen Ottenbreit
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I am sorry to hear of your loss. You have many wonderful memories to cherish. My thoughts are with you all.
It was always refreshing to volunteer with Sig & he & Millie have often always been in my thoughts & prayers as folks who made others feel important. May he “Rest in Peace”. I pray and hope that ALL his loved ones find Peace and Joy with treasured memories as you grieve yor loss. Much love and prayers, Betty Yarrow
Sorry for your loss. We spent many years celebrating Christmas. Sig and Mildred were always so welcoming and great with our child growing up. We enjoyed our family gift giving. He had some great stories to tell. He will me missed.
For sure, fond memories of Sig the catcher for the Teachers’ Fast-ball team. Being the chucker I can still see him crouched behind home-plate… two finers pointing down calling for an inside fast- ball. Sig was a great sport, teacher, gentleman and a friend to so many. A life well-lived! Thanks Sig.
Millie, Dick and Lorna, Ev and John and the whole Ottenbreit family, I am very sorry to hear of Sig’s passing. He was such a gentle person, always very interesting, and a such a good family and community man. It was a pleasure to have known him, and to have listened to many of his stories. My heart is with all of you and I offer my deepest condolences.
So sorry to hear about Sig’s passing. I had the honour of working with Sig at Mount Boucherie Secondary. He was a fabulous art teacher and was loved by his students. Sig had a great sense of humour. I recall the day Sig retired when he phoned staff at 6:00 am to remind us that we it was the first day of the new school year. Sig loved to play darts in the staff room during lunch. I really enjoyed talking to him about baseball and umpiring. He always had a smile to share. Condolences to his family.
Mr Ottenbreit (Sig) was an icon in our Elementary School It was a real pleasure to have maintained a social network with him and our grade 6 class over the past 5 generations. His presence at our graduation 50-year reunion was a highlight with a tour of our historic classroom that he preserved. A friend that will be missed and always remembered. RIP and very deep and sincere condolences to his wife and children.
Mr. Ottenbreit was one of my favourite teachers at Mount Boucherie from Gr. 8 to 12! I have kept my sketchbooks from his classes since I graduated in 1983. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends.
Condolences to the Ottenbriet family. 💐 I am so sorry for the loss of Sig. He was such a wonderful and amazing man. My deepest sympathies from our family to yours.
Mr. Ottenbreit worked with me on the Mt Boucherie Annual committee. (1983) He was always encouraging to his students. I met him again as an adult and when her heard that all my school Annuals had been accidentally destroyed he gave me his copies to replace them. My deepest sympathies to his family.
So sorry about Sig’s passing. I have fond memories of him in the staffroom at George Pringle when I arrived as a newbee from the UK in the fall of 69. He never missed an opportunity to make a friendly remark, and would always include us newcomers in the general lunchtime conversation. Among his many talents, Sig was a wonderful auctioneer – we had several fundraising auctions in those years, and he would have the crowd mesmerised with the rhythm of his auctioneer’s chant – I’m sure his skill added to the prices he received. I still use an old wooden schooldesk as a carpenter’s bench that I paid a fine price for back in about 1971, plus two chests of drawers – all purchased under his hammer in the Pringle gym at one time or another! He was a unique individual and the world is a better place for his having passed through it.
My Heartfelt Sympathy for your loss. Mr. Ottenbriet was by far one of my favorite teachers. Such a gentleman, always offered encouragement in all activities and an incredible art teacher by far. The world was a better place because he was in it and will be so missed by many. Mr. Ottenbriet was the truest role model of what a teacher should be. Take care, God Bless & know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Sincerely Karen McEwen
My condolences to Sig’s Family. He was my teacher in the small village of Venn, Sk. in the early 50’s and can vividly remember how he tutored us and got us involved in many sports and both of them helped us with dancing, etc. Then even later in life, my husband Ross and I visited with them when we were touring through B.C. Such great hosts!! You will be missed, Sig!