Robert Kenneth Ott, 50 of Manhattan, Kansas passed away on Oct. 11, 2023, surrounded by family, after valiantly fighting esophageal cancer for 5-1/2 years.
Rob was born in St. Joseph, MI on Jan. 5, 1973, to William L. and Judith Ott. He graduated with honors from Coloma Community Schools in 1991. During his high school years, he participated in a variety of sports - baseball, basketball, and cross-country. Rob was a member of the Civil Air Patrol unit and earned the Billy Mitchell Award. As a senior, he was awarded an Army ROTC scholarship and accepted to Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, to major in Civil Engineering. Upon college graduation he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and served as an officer from 1996-2000. He was assigned to the 70th Engineer Battalion, stationed at Fort Riley, KS where he was honorably discharged as a Captain.
In 1999, Rob married Kim (Gaulding) Ott, a Manhattan High School teacher. Their son, Landon, was born in 2005. Rob’s life was spent sharing life’s lessons and enjoying activities with his son such as hiking, tennis, baseball, and kayaking. Rob personally had learned deep sea diving prior to his diagnosis of cancer. A favorite activity of his was time spent every summer at the baseball fields. Whether it was little league or 18 U travel ball, Rob was there cheering and taking pictures/video. The spirit he carried to each of Landon’s games will resonate with both family and friends in Landon’s collegiate and baseball future at Fort Scott Junior College KS.
In addition to being his son’s biggest baseball fan, Rob loved watching sporting events. Cheering on the Red Wings hockey team ranked right up at the top of his favorite choices in his free time. He also became a fan of local sporting teams ranging from teams at Manhattan High School, KSU, and the regional favorites: KC Royals and KC Chiefs.
Rob’s life as a professional civil engineer spanned over two decades. From 2000 to the summer of 2005, Rob worked as the State Corridor Engineer for the Kansas Department of Transportation. In early fall of 2005, he took the position of City Engineer for the City of Manhattan. He then was promoted to Public Works Director for the City of Manhattan in 2014. He held that position until he passed. He was a member of the American Public Works Association and served as the President of the Kansas Chapter.
Rob’s many career accomplishments include redevelopment projects, utility relocations, expansions of major roadways, collaborations with both state and federal government agencies on projects such as the National Bio- and Agro-Defense Facility, and the Manhattan levee system. He also used his leadership skills to secure millions of dollars in state and federal funding.
In early 2023, a joint maintenance facility, a project his Public Works team worked on for many years was opened for use. He was surprised and honored that the City of Manhattan state dedicated the facility in his honor. They chose to name it the Robert K. Ott Municipal Services Facility.
Rob’s love of work did not just center around engineering. He loved working with his hands and was proficient in many practical skills that he self-taught or learned from his family back home in Michigan. He was a licensed general contractor, building both his rental property and his family’s current home.
Rob was preceded in death by his fraternal (William R. and Lorraine Ott of Stevensville) and maternal (Raymond and Dolores Rogel of Coloma) grandparents, sister Karrie Ott, and niece Emma Martindale.
He is survived by his wife Kim, son Landon, parents William and Judith Ott, brother Wm. Ryan (Sigrid) Ott, sister Jolyn (Mitch) Martindale, nephews Louis Martindale and Wm. Brady Ott, as well as niece Paige Martindale.
Cremation will take place prior to the visitation, which will be held on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas.
A Celebration of Life will be held the next day, Saturday, Nov. 4, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Robert K. Ott Municipal Services Facility, 1000 Levee Drive, Manhattan, Kansas.
A private inurnment will be held next summer in Sunrise Cemetery, Manhattan, Kansas.
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