John Edward Ottenweller, Phd

John E. Ottenweller, PhD, 65, of Lake Charles died September 23, 2015, from complications of an autoimmune liver disease. John was a wonderful husband, son, brother and uncle. He will be sadly missed by his family and many life-long friends. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Rosemary Padilla Ottenweller; his mother, Ruth Aimee Ottenweller and six brothers, sisters and their spouses, Mark Ottenweller (Lin), Danny Ottenweller (Cindy), Charles Ottenweller (Cecelia), Ann Patin (Frank), Amy Laurent (Joe) and Jean Carlile (Gary). John was also loved and will be missed by his in-laws, Gayle Lowe (Randy), James Padilla (Beverly), Linda Wood (Roger), Liz Rettig and Denise and Gerald Crumley. Also left to cherish his memory are Rosemary's devoted Sigur family, parents Pat and Don Sigur, and Rosemary's sisters and their spouses Angela Hornsby ( John), Marcelle Walker (David), Stephanie Clifton (Bob), Kate Pye (Frank), Rachel Boyd (Scott) and Monique Horvath (John). All these loving relatives provided John with numerous nieces and nephews. He loved and enjoyed being with each and every one of them. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. G.M. Martin; his father, Jerome Henry Ottenweller and a sister-in-law, Diane DeVall Ottenweller. John completed his undergraduate studies and obtained his doctoral degree in Endocrinology and Physiology at LSU Baton Rouge. He furthered his education with a postdoctoral fellowship at West Virginia University Medical Center. In 1983, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Benjamin Natelson at the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey as a research assistant professor. The two eventually became partners in a number of federally funded research projects and established two national centers, the VA Center for Environmental Hazards Research and the War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center. John and his partner also conducted extensive research focused on the illnesses of Gulf War veterans. Over the years, John published over 90 scientific or medically related research papers. He rose to the rank of full Professor of Neurosciences in 1995. Funeral services will be at 4:00 PM Saturday, September 26, 2015 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Mark Ottenweller will officiate. Visitation Friday will be from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Visitation Saturday will be from 2:00 PM until the start of services in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Saint Louis Catholic High School, to the Adam Puckett Memorial Scholarship fund, 1620 Bank Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601.