Sara (Grabenstein) Otto  
Sara A (Grabenstein) Otto
Single
Children: Daniel Otto, 46, Dexter, IA; Darrin Otto, 35, Nashville, TN; Three Grandsons.
WORK: After college: Music Therapy at Nebraska State Hospital. I worked with the criminally insane! I graduated from UNL, and taught Elementary music for 35 years. I am now retired from elementary teaching but still teach a course on "HUMOR" at the graduate level at Drake University - taught 20 years. I have 25 private piano students, play professionally at private parties, country clubs, and in a big band for 20 years. I'm doing music therapy at the Deerfield (Retirement) Health Center & Assisted Living. I give humor speeches and seminars to businesses. Retired from public school teaching in 1999, but never plan to retire completely.
INTERESTS: Calligraphy. Working on a CD of songs that I composed for children, and a piano CD. Work (volunteer) for Variety Club of Iowa. Play on cruises.
HONORS: Greatest teaching honor is Iowa Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award, by the University of Iowa in 1985. I won a composition contest for ISEA - the song is "Iowa Pride" and it was scored for Elementary through College Band, Orchestra, and vocal and was sent to all 2,000 schools in Iowa to use.
THE 50's: I miss having Pop music with words you can understand
REFLECTIONS: To me, success is governed by how well we learn lessons in life, and are willing to change and grow. I strongly believe in humor and ways to lighten and enlighten (light bulb) our lives. He who laughs, lasts. My Mother died a month after I graduated from LHS, and I want to again thank all of the countless classmates who came to my home, and/or sent cards during that sad time in my life. My Father had died when I was 12, so I was really on my own from that time on. A good foundation, hard work, determination, and a sense of humor made it all possible.