Ortrun Almuth Elisabeth Wallace

Ortrun Almuth Elisabeth Wallace, aged 88, passed away on March 28, 2025, in West Valley City, Utah. Ortrun was born on June 23, 1936, in Hamburg, Germany to Curt and Margarete Sinz. She married Scot Wallace on February 6, 1959.

Ortrun was described as a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She spoke multiple languages including German, English, Spanish, and French. She graduated from the University of Utah MAGNA CUM LAUDE with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and completed her schooling in just 2.5 years! She started her educator career as a room mother at Robert Frost Elementary before becoming a teacher's aide and finally beginning her career as an elementary school teacher. She taught each grade of Elementary School other than Kindergarten.

She had many hobbies and skills. One of her notable skills was making a moist turkey--even white meat and the best pumpkin pie. She loved walking and hiking the switchbacks of Oakley, Utah. She also loved knitting, sewing, classical music, as well as identifying plants and birds. She loved cool, rainy days because they reminded her of her port city Hamburg. She especially loved watching wildlife from the porch of her home in Oakley.

Ortrun is survived by her husband, Scot Wallace; her son Gavin Wallace (Tami Grass, partner); her daughters Leslie Life, and Cara (Brady) Bryant; her grandchildren, Lauren (Jason) Ray, Kevin (Dannielle) Bryant, Katie (Aldo) Arnone, Roger T. Life, and Ella Wallace; her great-grandchild Korben Ray; and her grand-dogs, Lucy and Copper Bryant. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Gudrun Sinz, Elfriede Rehagan, Brunhilde Peters, and her brother Kurt H. P. H. Sinz.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Ortrun's honor on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:30 PM at Plum & Pine Event Center, 6388 South Redwood Road, Taylorsville, Utah.  Light food and refreshments will be provided. 

She will be laid to rest in a Columbarium Niche at Memorial Redwood Cemetery, 6500 South Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah.