Howard Amos Otis Obituary (1953 - 2017)

Born Jun 29, 1953, Howard Amos Otis attended Charlevoix High School in Charlevoix, MI. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Howard Amos Otis.

Graduation Year	Class of 1971
Date of Birth	Jun 29, 1953
Date of Passing	May 27, 2017
About	uzz was born June 29, 1953, in Milford, Michigan, the son of Howard and Mary Otis. He went to be with the Lord after passing in a bush plane accident May 27, 2017, on the Salcha River. Buzz grew up and attended high school in Charlevoix, Michigan, then attended Michigan State University, graduating with a degree in turf management. Buzz came to Alaska ""for a few months"" in 1975 for an adventure and exploration, and decided to call Alaska home. He worked on the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. In 1976, he started Great Northwest Landscaping. In 1978, he met the love of his life, Renee, and they were married June 13, 1981, in Fairbanks. He built and maintained the first private rugby pitch in Alaska. Many remember it as Buzz's Rugby World. From 1982 through 1988, he served on the borough assembly, and as presiding officer helped pass the vote to build the Carlson Center. He also served on the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, Fairbanks Economic Development Corp., The Oil Support Industry Alliance and the North Pole Economic Development Corp. For the past several years, he has been the primary organizer and fundraiser of the North Pole Championship Sled Dog Races. Buzz loved to see the children race, and when he learned their organization was dwindling, he helped found the Junior Dog Mushers of Interior Alaska. With the help of several parents, he organized and served on the board. Buzz always said his drive to put on these races was the children and their big smiles. He was also his son, Ben's, right hand man at their construction company, Better Way Construction LLC. He was truly an entrepreneur and he loved business and building. Although his business endeavors were long, Buzz's passion was to give back to the community that he belonged to. Buzz had a lifelong love of hunting and fishing, which he imparted upon his children through many hunting and fishing trips, including exploring and fishing Prince William Sound, and deer hunting in Kodiak Island and Southeast Alaska with his family and many friends. No matter where he explored, he always was amazed by God's beauty. Buzz touched many lives with his core values of compassion, generosity and integrity. His known and unknown acts of kindness were numerous. He will be remembered fondly by those who knew him, and his entire family, particularly his loving wife and children, who will miss him greatly. He was his children's biggest fan, watching many hockey, soccer, volleyball and basketball games, which he attended with a loud voice and great enthusiasm. Buzz was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sisters, Sharon Cronk, of Cheboygan Michigan; and Tiller Landick (Gregg), of Perry, Michigan; his loving wife and partner of 39 years, Renee Webb Otis; children, Ben Otis and favorite daughter-in-law Olivia Otis, Patrick Otis and Jenna Otis, all of North Pole. Also surviving are his many nieces and nephews, and brother and sisters-in-law, all of whom he truly loved. A memorial service celebrating Buzz's life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at North Pole Worship Center, 3340 Badger Road, North Pole. All who knew him are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations in Buzz's name be made to Catholic Schools of Fairbanks at catholic-schools.org/donate. Arrangements were entrusted to Blanchard Family Funeral Home, 482-3232, blanchardfamilyfuneralhome.com.