Otto Reichardt, Jr., of Cat Spring, TX, passed away on December 10, 2022, in Houston, TX. Otto was born in Cat Spring, on December 29, 1932, to parents Otto and Alice (Braesicke) Reichardt. He grew up in the Cat Spring area where he attended school. He then later graduated from Sealy High School in 1950.

An avid baseball fan, he walked on to the Blinn baseball team and won the job at 3rd base. He was only able to attend for one year before the Army called on him. During this time, he married the love of his life Fay Fricke on December 19,1953. Whilein the army, they lived in El Paso where his oldest son Randy was born. He graduated from Blinn after only 7 years when his daughter Nancy was 5daysold. Aftergraduation, Otto and Fay moved their family back to Austin County where they welcomed their sons Stephen and Brian.

Otto continued his passion for baseball even after college. He played for the Bernardo Hurricanes, the New Ulm Fireman and the senior amateur team American Legion Babe Ruth out of Columbus. In fact, he played for three teams in one summer. Otto played baseball until he was 47 years old and couldn’t see the ball anymore, so he then became an umpire for the Brenham chapter at age 55.

Otto gave back to the community and the youth of Sealy by serving as a baseball coach. He started with his oldest son Randy in the pee wee league and ended with his youngest son Brian’s senior league seasons. Otto was known as a jokester and considered himself second to none as a baseball player but actually next to nothing which is the same thing. However, he was no joke. He was inducted into the Texas Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in 1988.

Otto was one of the founding members of the Cat Spring Volunteer Fire Department and recently received a 40-year pin. He was also involved with the Cat Spring Agricultural Society and served as a crew chief for the June Fest BBQ until handing it over this past year to his sons.

After graduating from college, Otto worked for the railroad in Bellville and then took on the Postmaster job for the Cat Spring Post Office. He enjoyed his time as a rural carrier and the many friends that he made while running his routes. After 27 years, he retired from the Post Office in 1993 to tell jokes at all of the senior meetings that he attended.

Otto loved supporting his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He attended everything from ball games (any type of sport) to dance recitals to band concerts. And they all loved spending time with him, especially at the farm where they could hunt and fish or help him in the garden or with his cattle.

Otto was preceded in death by parents Otto and Alice Reichardt, wife Fay Reichardt, sister and brother-in- law Alice and Joe Ed Burttschell and nephew Michael Joe Burttschell. He is survived by his son Randy Reichardt and wife Debbie (Cat Spring), daughter Nancy Hartmann and husband Daryl (Cat Spring), son Stephen Reichardt and wife Connie (Frydek) and son Brian Reichardt and wife Emma (Sealy). He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Becky Forrester and husband Craig, Russel Reichardt and wife Courtney, Ryan Reichardt and wife Carla, all of Cat Spring, Brett Reichardt and wife Madison, Tyler Reichardt and wife Michelle, Marcus Reichardt, Nicholas Reichardt and Elizabeth Reichardt, all of Sealy, Salina Locke and husband John of Hungerford, Tami Kremers and husband Austin of Midlothian. Otto is also survived by 18 great grandchildren: Jenna, William and Jake Forrerster, and Rhys, Remington, Rylan, Reese, Rhett, Kinsley, Alice, Otto, Owen Reichardt, and Lauryn, Lynsey, Lylee Locke, and Aiden, Lynlee, Wyatt Kremers, and one step grandson Eric Weiss. Otto is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Additionally, Otto is survived by his wife Dorothy Mersmann and her four sons: Larry and Carrie Mersmann family (College Station), Michael and Sharon Mersmann family (Sealy), Kevin and Donna Mersmann family (Katy) and Andy and Denise Mersmann family (Katy).

Visitation will be on Thursday, December 15 from 5-7 pm at Knesek Funeral Chapel in Bellville. Funeral services will be on Friday, December 16 at 2pm at St. John Lutheran Church in Cat Spring.

The pallbearers are grandsons Russell Reichardt, Ryan Reichardt, Brett Reichardt, Tyler Reichardt, Marcus Reichardt and Nicholas Reichardt. Honorary Pallbearers are Craig Forrester, John Locke, Austin Kremers, John Burttschell and Larry Volkening.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cat Spring Volunteer Fire Department or St. John Lutheran Church in Cat Spring.

OTTO REICHARDT JR.

1932- 2022