Person:Otto Schirmer (1)

About Otto Schirmer

Otto Louis Schirmer was a second-generation sausage maker, born in California on September 1, 1923, son of August Gustav Schirmer (1893-1960), German Immigrant sausage maker and his wife, Margaret Gruarequa (1898-1942), born in Mexico. Otto built the family-owned sausage making business, Schirmer's Sausage, Incorporated, into one of the premier sausage, luncheon meat and packaged prepared salad manufacturer's on the west coast. Schirmer's products were carried by most grocers and many small deli's and restaurants in California, and were frequently advertised in their weekly circulars.

Accompanying many of Schirmer's advertisements was Schirmer's logo character [as shown at right], which was trademarked by Schirmer's Sausage in 1975.

Otto Schirmer was very active in the Dairy/Deli/Bakery Council of Southern California (DDBC), or "Deli Council", a local food-industry trade association, was elected to its Board of Directors and was elected as its President in 1971.

While a member, Schirmer was also awarded the Deli Council's "Big Cheese" Award in February 1969, and later inducted into its "Hall of Fame" in 1990, then only the eleventh person to receive that honor.

Otto married Ann C. Wagner on September 19, 1970 in Los Angeles County, California. She had been previously married for 20 years to Grant C. Dobretz. Their marriage ended in amicable divorce. Otto Schirmer passed away on March 9, 2010 [Social Security Death Records] when he was living in Buena Park, California. His wife Ann had pre-deceased him in 1989.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index: Death Master File, database. (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service).

   U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current
   Name: Otto Louis Schirmer
   Last Residence: 90620 Buena Park, Orange, California, USA
   BORN: 1 Sep 1923
   Died: 9 Mar 2010
   State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951)

2.   United States. 1940 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T627).

   1940 United States Federal Census
   Name: Otto Schirmer
   Age: 16
   Estimated birth year: abt 1924
   Gender: Male
   Race: White
   Birthplace: California
   Marital Status: Single
   Relation to Head of House: Son
   Home in 1940: Stockton, San Joaquin, California
   Street: East Miner
   House Number: 1113
   Inferred Residence in 1935: Ventura, Ventura, California
   Residence in 1935: Ventura, Ventura, California
   Resident on farm in 1935: No
   Sheet Number: 7B
   Attended School or College: Yes
   Highest Grade Completed: High School, 3rd year
   Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
   Income: 0
   Income Other Sources: No
   Neighbors: View others on page
   Household Members: Name Age
   Margaret Schirmer 42
   August Schirmer 47
   Otto Schirmer 16