Arlin Alfred Kottman

Arlin was born and raised in Forest Green, Missouri, to Alfred William and Elenora Rohwer Kottman. His grandparents were born in Germany and came to Forest Green in the 1800's. Forest Green is about an hour from Columbia, Missouri. Some of Arlin's fondest memories were of growing up in this German farming area. He often talked about the wonderful life he had growing up with his dad being a farmer and his mother a housewife. He would talk about hay rides and sleigh rides to the Salem Lutheran Church and playing music with his siblings. His father played trombone, his sister Gertrude play clarinet, and his sister Elsie played piano. He said this was the best of times. At an early age (5 yrs) Arlin was taught the trumpet by his father. He played in his father's band when he was 7 years old and used to sit on catalogs to read the sheet music. The band members were all adults except for Arlin, and it was strange to have such a small boy playing trumpet. His father cut a deal with the band members and said he would direct their band only if his son could play the trumpet — a deal was cut. By being an exceptional trumpet player by the time he was in intermediate and high school, he was known as the "big cheese" trumpet player. He attended Salem Lutheran School until the 8th grade and then moved to a public school, Glasgow High School. There he was well known for his trumpet playing and basketball skills and ever since rooted for the Glasgow High School Yellowjackets. He still received the Glasgow Missourian Newspaper to keep up with their progress. Arlin was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan and proudly wore his Cardinal coat and hat everywhere he went. He was not bashful about sharing his love for the Cardinals. Arlin graduated from Glasgow High School and came to Washington, DC, to study music under the famous Lloyd Geyser. He worked as a "soda jerk" at a Washington drug store to pay for his music lessons. Arlin moved on in his musical career and played for the 257th US Army Reserve Band for 12 years. After the Army he formed his own band and played for every establishment known to mankind — "some you can mention and some you cannot mention," he always said with a big grin on his face. He was proud to boast that his band played for a president of the United States — LBJ. At the same time Arlin was having fun playing the trumpet, he attended college and earned a BS degree in Business Administration from Southern University. Arlin slowed down on his musical endeavors — not by choice but to increase his income— and accepted a position with the in-house research agency, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), US Department of Agriculture. He was there for many years, becoming the Administrative Officer and ultimately Executive Officer with the Cooperative State Research Service (CSRS), US Department of Agriculture, working with the 1862 and 1890 Land Grant Institutions. Arlin received many accolades and awards for his exceptional service with the Federal and State research system. Arlin retired from the federal government in 1985 with 32 years of service. Arlin was very active in the affairs of Nativity Lutheran Church. He served on the Church Council and directed the choir for a period of time. He played his trumpet many times for church service along with other Nativity members and was also instrumental in getting the younger members of the church involved in playing. Arlin and his wife Sandra were married at Nativity in November 1983. Arlin is preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Elenora Kottman of Forest Green, MO, and his sister Gertrude Antonucci of St. Louis, MO. He is survived by his wife Sandra, step-daughter Ursula Dandar (son-in-law Ed), and grandchildren Victoria and Zachery of Winchester, VA, as well as his sister, Elsie Kottman of Washington, DC. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Middle School Music Fund at Nativity Lutheran Church.

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Arlin Alfred Kottman

July 18, 1928 - June 17, 2014