Utech, Robert W. 1924-2017

UTECH, BLUMER, KRAAI

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/9/2017 at 19:13:43

LeMars Daily Sentinel (online)
Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Robert Utech, 93, of Orange City, died Sunday, June 25, 2017, at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City.

Robert William was born on June 3, 1924, in rural Le Mars, the son of Edward and Clara (Blumer) Utech. He attended Northwestern College in Orange City, where he met the love of his life, Mariann Kraai. They eloped and were married on June 3, 1944, in Manitou Springs, Colorado. “Bob” was stationed there, preparing to be deployed to Europe during World War II.

After being discharged, they made their home in Orange City, where he was a partner with his father in the John Deere implement business. The family later moved to Le Mars, where he was employed by the State of Iowa, as a traffic weight enforcement officer, retiring in 1986. They then moved to Spirit Lake and wintered in Arizona.

In 2015, they became residents of Prairie Ridge, where Mariann died Dec. 28, 2015, after more than 71 years of marriage.

Mr. Utech was active in the communities in which they lived, especially in Orange City, where he served as a Boy Scout leader for several years.

Survivors include his two daughters and their husbands, Mary and Duane Ott, of Sioux City and Vicki Pospisil and Gerald Dolf, of Waterloo; six grandchildren and their spouses, Michael and Courtney Ott, Sarah and Michael Archer, Mark Pospisil, Matthew and Stephanie Ott, Christy Pospisil, and Julie Ott; six great-grandchildren; a sister and her husband, Marilyn and Miller Glanzer; a brother-in-law, Erwin Kraai; three nephews and two nieces.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Rolette Kraai; and his parents-in-law, Fred and Pearl Kraai.

Bob was a devoted husband and a kind and loving father. He was always thankful to God for his blessings. He was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by his family. They are confident he is now experiencing this promise from Psalm 16: “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., today (Wednesday) at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City. The Rev. B. J. Van Kalsbeek will officiate. After refreshments, interment will be at the Rest Haven Memorial Cemetery, near Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be after 1 p.m. Wednesday, at the care center.

Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Memorials may be directed to the Orange City Area Home Health and Hospice.