Le Mars, Iowa – Dorothy E. Utesch, 81, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at the Brentwood Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars. Funeral services will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, 2007 at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church (Preston Township) rural Akron, Iowa. Rev. Jerry Crow will officiate. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 18 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home of Le Mars. The family will be present from 5 – 8 p.m. with a prayer service scheduled at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral.
Dorothy Engelina Johanna Haage was born on April 11, 1926 in Plymouth County, Iowa the daughter of Herman and Elizabeth (Ludwigs) Haage. She attended country school near her home. Following her education Dorothy assisted her family and area families with homemaking and farming.
On November 9, 1945 Dorothy and Merlin Utesch were united in marriage at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church (Preston Township) rural Akron, Iowa. The couple made their home in Virginia while Merlin was in the service. Following the war they returned to the area and lived in various locations before settling in Plymouth County to farm. In 1974 Dorothy and Merlin purchased the M & D Locker in Merrill. They operated the locker until 1988. Retirement years were spent on an acreage near Craig. Merlin passed away on July 26, 1992. Dorothy moved to the Regency Village Apartments in Le Mars. She was currently a resident at Brentwood Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars.
Dorothy was a member of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church where she was active with Circle. Dorothy enjoyed gardening, embroidery, fishing, playing cards, and was wonderful cook and baker. Most importantly she cherished the time she spend with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She will be lovingly remembered by her son Curtis and his wife Diane of Le Mars, IA, a son Roger and his wife Sharon of Brunsville, IA, a daughter Janet Sneller and her husband Steve of Le Mars, IA, a son Stanley of Brunsville, IA, and a daughter Carol Dumas and special friend Todd Dahl of Kennedy, MN; grandchildren Brian and Lisha Utesch, Laurie and Brain Rowe, Lisa and Terry Lancaster, Brent and Kristi Utesch, Dawn Utesch, David Utesch and Alisa Vogel, Jason and Mindi Sneller, Jesse and Amanda Sneller, Nicole and Justin Rolling, Kent Sneller and Megan Hoogeveen, Brandon and Jodie Utesch, Moriah Utesch, Kayla Utesch and Cedric Phillips, Ryan Utesch, Charles Dumas and Melanie Teunissen, Heath Dumas and Trisha Heeren, Sara and Jason Pearson, Jimmy and Toni Dumas; 39 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great grandchildren; and a sister Lois Varenhorst and her husband Norman of Le Mars; sisters-in-law Margaret Utesch of Worthington, MN and Charlene Betsworth of Merrill, IA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Merlin; and a grandson Daniel on June 19, 1981.

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