Otto, Wayne R.

Wayne grew up in Fremont, Wis., above the Farmers’ Store on the banks of the Wolf River. He graduated from UW-River Falls then volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and served for two years, attaining the rank of sergeant. He taught high school English for three years before completing master’s and Ph.D. degrees at UW-Madison. He held faculty positions at both the University of Oregon and the University of Georgia before returning to Madison. Wayne was professor and two-time chairman of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, specializing in reading education. He retired in 1995 as emeritus professor after 30 years at UW-Madison.

Wayne will be remembered by friends and neighbors as a great gardener and an avid reader, and by colleagues as a notable figure in education research and development, an author, and particularly as a teacher, mentor and friend to countless graduate students.

Surviving are his wife of 31 years, Diane Hammer; daughter, Eleni Otto (Greg Arnold); brother, Roger (Joan); nephews, Tim and Luke; stepdaughter, Susan Eich; and former wife, Shirley Bergen.

Our thanks to Wayne’s many caregivers at UW Health and the research team at the UW Carbone Cancer Center.

No services are planned, but memories may be shared at www.CressFuneralService.com.