William & Mary Utesch

UTESCH PARKS FEY

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/15/2010 at 23:23:46

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

William and Mary Utesch
By William & Mary Utesch

William Rudolph Utesch ‘Bill’ was born on a farm four and one-half miles north of Correctionville, the Ridge Road) on February 2, 1928, the only son in a family of six girls and one boy. His parents were William Rudolph Utesch, deceased, and Mary Cleao Parks Utesch, deceased. Bill attended country school, Summit #2, until attending high school at Correctionville, graduating in 1944. Bill was going to join the Air Force after graduating, but due to a serious accident of a renter on his Father’s farm, he took over and stayed home to farm that year and has been farming ever since. In 1945 he was awarded a War Harvest Certificate for outstanding service in the 1944 Food for Victory Emergency program.

Mary Louise Fey Utesch was born on her grandparents’ farm, Anton and Christiana Christiansen Petersen, four and one-half miles south of Correctionville, on December 14, 1930. She was the oldest daughter of a family of two girls, born to Franklin Wayne Fey and Olga Catherine Petersen Fey Ferry. She lived on farms and attended country schools in Woodbury County until she was ten years old. In 1940 her father started defense work for the government and moved from Iowa to several southern states, where Mary attended grade schools. In 1944 the family moved back to Correctionville; she attended high school there, graduating in 1948.

Bill and Mary were married March 28, 1948, in the United Methodist Church of Correctionville, where they are members. They were blessed with five children: Sherrie, Craig, Brad, Kirk and Mary Catherine ‘Cathy’. They settled on Bill’s father’s farm, six miles north and half mile East (Woodbury County, Union Township Section 2) of Correctionville. They still farm this farm, buying it and another adjoining farm in Cherokee County from the Utesch Estate in 1960. Bill was chosen Outstanding Young Farmer in 1964 by the Sioux City Junior Chamber of Commerce and represented Woodbury County in the state contest. Bill and Mary purchased the farm next to them from R E and Allie Thomsen in 1963 and in 1969 built a new home on this farm where they still live. Farming and feeding cattle has been their occupation for thirty-five years.

September 28, 1951, Sherrie Sue died at birth; September 3, 1952, Craig William was born; August 27, 1953, Brad Wayne was born; June 6, 1957, Kirk Warren was born; June 5, 1961, Mary Catherine ‘Cathy’ was born.

Mary is a member of the United Methodist Women Society, is a past Worthy Matron of Stella Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, PEO Daughters of the Nile, was a Sunday School Superintendent of Junior department of four years. She enjoys golf, playing cards, and traveling.

Bill has served on Eastwood School board, United Methodist Church board, Director of Colonia Manors of Correctionville, and Iowa Land & Futures, also Woodbury County Cattlemen Association. He is Past Master of Burning Bush Lodge AF&AM, a member of Sioux City Consistory, Abu Bekr Shrine Club and the Flying Carpets Motor Union. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and flying (he is a pilot).

Bill and Mary are still farming and feeding cattle, they are proud that their three sons have chosen the same occupation as their father and his father before him, making three generations of a dedicated occupation of Feeding the World.