Otto Frederick Duecker, III
Obituary
Otto Duecker, artist, husband, teacher and friend, has passed away. He was well known internationally for his amazingly realistic and ingenious paintings as well as his clever wit and thoughtful commentary on every topic under the sun. Otto was born in Milwaukee and as an army brat lived in the Netherlands, Turkey, and Colorado, eventually settling with his family in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While in junior high a friend’s mother took him to Philbrook where he decided he could paint…and he did just that, teaching himself by studying art books of the old masters. He never stopped learning, striving to improve and make each painting unique and better than the last.
Otto loved teaching, impacting the lives of hundreds of students while at Edison High School in Tulsa. He was famous for his quotes and his studied opinions on all aspects of art and life which he readily shared. Starting a class with quotes from Joni Mitchell, Lao Tzu, Oscar Wilde, LeCorbusier, and dozens of writers and artists, he sparked thought, ideas and learning. Otto would bring iconic objects like an Eames Chair into the classroom to show the students how beautifully crafted furniture and other everyday objects could be and how design impacts our lives. His students adored him and still, after 50 years, they would stop to reintroduce themselves and tell him what a positive impact his teaching had on their lives.
Ahead of his time, Otto’s hyper realistic “cut out” paintings of street people brought him international attention in the 1970s and 80s as did his “Help” series which focused on working people, often unnoticed in their daily lives. He broke the boundaries of still-life painting by “floating” traditional subjects like fruit, flowers, even lobsters and candies. He painted stunning trompe l’oeil portraits of iconic figures and memorable family portraits. His “love notes,” seemingly taped or tacked to the wall, are cherished family treasures. Otto’s work is respected and exhibited in major galleries and museum collections from New York and Santa Fe to Chicago and London and by his “FD,” favorite dealer, M.A. Doran in Tulsa.
Otto enjoyed sharing his skills, mentoring and trading secrets with fellow artists. He generously supported Tulsa’s community organizations, donating numerous paintings for auctions and fundraisers.
One of Otto’s favorite quotes was “All places on earth are an equal distance from heaven. All moments in time are equally near in eternity.”
Otto is preceded in death by his parents Otto Jr. and Mayme Duecker and his sister Marilyn Eaton. He is survived by Ellen, his wife and partner of 55 years and by his sister, Susan and her husband, Mike Nichols and nieces and nephews Rachel, Claire, Lynda, Sarah, Will and David of Arkansas; cousins Lynn and Shirley, and by Ellen’s family the Cronins and Earleys of Oklahoma City; by his poodle studio “assistants” and by his dear life-long friends who will miss his unique, witty and entertaining self.
In lieu of flowers, friends can consider donating to Up With Trees, the Foundation for Tulsa Schools or the Tulsa Library Trust.
A memorial service will be held 4:00 p.m. Thursday, February 5, 2026 at All Souls Unitarian Church, 2952 S. Peoria Ave.
Events
Memorial Service
Tributes & Memories
Susan, Otto’s sister and I have been dear friends since our college days at OSU. Susan’s small basement apartment was filled wall to wall with her brother’s paintings. I remember thinking how “odd” they were; old tattered jeans hanging in the air, a pair of shoes with holes and frayed laces, as if they had walked 10,000 miles, and a portrait of an old woman with more wrinkles than you could count. Other friends and I would often express sympathy for this young man and how he would ever have any kind of future in art! Fond regards and blessings to the family, and in loving memory of Otto Sr., Mayme, Marilyn and Otto. Love, Barbara Wilson
Barbara Wilson
Proverbs 3:13: Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding". Whether one had the privilege of personally knowing Otto or not, his art expressed the obvious; a man who had found his true purpose in life, his passion. There was nothing boring, staid or predictable about Otto's various and voluminous artistic expressions. Each was captivating, exciting to the senses and impressively unique; a culmination of his exceptionally creative imagination, understanding of perspective, form and color, and continuous nurturing to the perfection of his innate skills. Beyond witnessing the ever-evolving stages of Otto's artistic talents since our days as students at Oklahoma State University, I enjoyed the many facets of our friendship for almost 60 years. Otto's passing is personally heartbreaking and untimely, as he would have created so much more. He will be sorely missed by all those who knew him, but we can be grateful that Otto was an important part of our life's story and left an artistic legacy that will be experienced and enjoyed by generations that follow. Rest in peace my dear friend.
Steve Olim
I will always be grateful to Otto for introducing me to the jewelry of Ann Garret of Tulsa while I was a junior at Edison and studying art in Mr. Duecker’s class. Ann later became my employer and mentor, and I have enjoyed a 41 year career in the jewelry industry; 27.5 of them as a business owner in Oklahoma City and Sun Valley, Idaho. None of that would have happened without Otto. I am sad I will not be able to attend the service and extend my heartfelt condolences to Ellen and the family. Otto was able to retire from teaching in order to paint full time 2 years after I graduated. I am blessed to have known him and spend 9.5 months in his classroom. His thoughtful and clever manner of teaching was sometimes lost on a bunch of teenagers, but I loved every minute of his class and count it amongst my fondest school memories. Rest in peace, dear Otto. The world was a better place from you having been in it, and you will live on in perpetuity through your fabulous artwork. Cheers to a life well lived ❤️
Valerie Naifeh
Mr. Duecker was my High School art teacher at Edison. He introduced me to jewelry making, and I still love doing it. I was so honored when he picked a ring I had made to be in a show. I didn't win, but I didn't need to. I was happy he liked my piece. Even as a teenager I realized the size of his talent, and was thrilled he liked something of mine. His work, and his memory will live for eternity. Rest easy, Mr. Duecker, you've earned it by a life well lived.
Susan Oatsvall
My husband and I met Otto and Ellen when we lived at Woodward Park Apartments in 1972. I remember seeing his artwork and being so impressed. We only live there about a year, but I remember them being very nice people. The world has lost a terrific artist and evidently a wonderful teacher.
Cinda Benton
Otto was exceptionally influential in my young life during those turbulent years of high school, when every sensitive kid needs a hero. I took six of his art classes in my sophomore, junior, and senior years (1973 - 1976) at Edison High School . Otto didn’t just teach art … he taught life … how to live and appreciate the world around us all! I don’t know anyone that knew Otto that didn’t learn from him and love him. This talented man leaves a legacy held dearly in the hearts of many and now a void that cannot be filled. I’ll miss you Otto! Your student and friend (and as you use to call me during roll call every morning) “Mr Hippity, Hoopity, Hooper” … Clay ❤️
Clay Hooper