Utesch, Arthur W. 1921-2003

UTESCH, GARDENER, HAMMATT

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 3/2/2009 at 20:26:43

WYNOT, Neb. -- Arthur William Utesch, 82, of Wynot died Monday, Dec. 15, 2003, at Beverly Healthcare Nursing Home in Hartington, Neb.

Services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartington, with the Rev. Stewart Sell officiating. Burial will be in Wynot Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Wynot American Legion Post 31. Visitation will be 1 to 9 p.m. today, with the family present 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., at Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Friday at the church.

Mr. Utesch was born July 3, 1921, in Le Mars, Iowa, the son of William Franklin and Bertha Pauline (Gardener) Utesch. He grew up in the Le Mars area.

He married Elaine I. Hammatt on Sept. 14, 1940, in Le Mars. After their marriage, they lived in Sioux City, where he worked for Swift Packing Co. for 31 years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II and the Korean Conflict.

In 1960, he had an unsuccessful campaign for Iowa State Representative. The couple moved to Wynot in 1964 and owned and operated the Wynot Locker until 1976. He also worked as an insurance salesman and adjuster from 1977 until retiring in1988.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Wynot American Legion Post 31. He was a former member and very active in the United Packing House Workers of America. He was active in the Democratic Party and served as a former chairman on the Cedar Security Bank board. He was a Green Thumb worker in Wynot.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine of Wynot; two children and their spouses, Ric and Judy Utesch of Aurora, Colo., and Laurelle and Bill Shoemaker of Kensington, Md.; a daughter-in-law, Jan Utesch of Deadwood, S.D.; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three brothers, Donald and his wife, Darlene Utesch of Sioux City, Arnold and his wife, June Utesch of Loveland, Colo., and Ronald Utesch of Le Mars, Iowa; and a sister, Elvira Shulz of Le Mars.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Randy; a brother, Everett Utesch; a sister, Leila Kruse; and a sister-in-law, Helen Utesch.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, Dec. 18, 2003
~Part of the Darrell E. Obituary Collection