Joseph Otello Obituary

Joe had many good hikes in California with my daughters and I. We miss him

At a vintage baseball game today 6/1/2025 I for some reason thought of Joe. I played in Roseland Little League in 1959 and to this day he is the only umpire I still remember! RIP Joe. You are still in our hearts.

RIP Joe - I played a lot of baseball and softball for over 40 years. In all those years I only remember one umpire, Joe Otello. In little league I was a catcher and used to love when Joe was behind the plate. He would sing "Oh Susanna" in my ear and I would put dirt on his shoes. My dad, who was our manager, loved Joe so much he just had to argue with him. Joe thru my dad out of more games, but after they would laugh shake hands and all was cool. I am sure he is umping games for my dad up in Heaven because every once in a while I hear the thunder. Loved you Joe, I am 73 and knew you when I was 7. I will never forget.

It is hard to believe that it has been a year since Joe passed. We miss him stoppping to ask if our son(s) would like to help him with yard work and odd jobs and after church services on sat. nights. Joe, Tiger is being very well taken care of. Thank you for thinking of us when you needed help. You were a great friend and I loved to look at the pictures of your trips and to hear about them. You are missed by many. See you in Heaven my friend. Traci, John, Shaun, Aaron, Colton, Joseph & Shane.

I will meet up with you on future hiking trails my good friend. Happy Trails Joe

Joe Otello was one of my best friends. I was 13 or 14 when we met, but I visited him for several days every summer and usually in the spring too. He took me down to his swimming whole, took me out to eat, introduced me (and bragged about me) to his friends, and never let me go a day without knowing how much I was his little buddy. I'll never forget you Joe, save me a good seat in heaven will ya?

I had the pleasure of meeting him during the HOMES and mega dairy fight. We sat outside the overcrowded courtroom and exchanged stories of growing up and working in Chicago. Good guy.

WE WILL MISS YOU AND YOUR COUNTLESS YEARS AS A BOY SCOUT COMMISSIONER AND UMPIRE
IN TINLEY PARK AND OAK FOREST BEFORE YOU MOVED TO APPLE RIVER WI

our son met Joe through boy scouts about five years ago and helped him with yard work last summer.Joe was full of interesting stories about his travels and life and was very house and garden proud!He was a character and will be missed,rest in peace Joe!

One summer day in the early 70's, as I walked into the batter's box at West Pullman Park, Joe called me Neil Sedaka. I was into the Beatles, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelen, etc. Joe laughed when he realized I had no idea who Neil Sedaka was. Good guy. RIP.

It was a pleasure knowing Joe during our fight with big agricultue in northern Illinois over the Bos dairy. He was a devoted member of the H.O.M.E.S family trying to save the local environment for future generations.He will be missed.

I got to know Joe while working with him and others to stop a mega-dairy from becoming operational in Jo Davies County, Illinois. The group we worked together through was H.O.M.E.S. Joe often shared stories about being an ump and through those stories you could tell how much he loved being one. It was a pleasure to have known Joe. To his family and other friends may your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

Our sincere sympathy to Joe's family. We got to know Joe through the H.O.M.E.S. group. He was a very dedicated and caring person who stood up for what he believed in. He will be missed.

RIP Joe, ill always remember our times we had when you came to apple canyon state park, and when we went to devils lake.
You were always a great role model and a great person. You will be missed by many.

Rest in Peace , Joe will be missed on the diamonds in the area. Jeff Balogh

Only God can read hearts, but from what others say, Joe was a good guy. Now he is resting in peace. Ecclesiates 9:5 DJ

I was a Roseland Little League catcher for Caley Brothers in the North Section. Joe was one of the funniest umpires ever. He used to get down behind me and start singing "Oh Susanna". Joe was a good guy who was always there to "ump" the game. My dad, who was a manager for 10 years in LL, used to tell his best stories about him and Joe getting into it on the field. But, once they went thru the gates leaving they were friends. Joe, you will always be in my heart as one of those people that made my childhood a good time. Thank you. RIP

Rest in peace. Joe was a fixture in the world of amateur baseball. He was a fair umpire and I ran full circle having Joe as an umpire playing in Roseland Little League, Fernwood Babe Ruth, Fernwood Bruins and then in college. Later to have him umpire games I coached in high school and then umpire games my sons played in Tinley Park. He always kept a love of Roseland with him and he attended many events whenever he was able.

God bless.

I offer my sincere condolences. May the Bible comfort you. (Romans 15:4)

I had the pleasure of knowing Joe as a coach and then as a fellow umpire. Joe was an absolute gentleman and a great mentor. He will be missed in the baseball world.

Joe was a great guy, and will be missed by the baseball community. I will miss seeing him every year at the ABCA Convention