Brunsville, Iowa – Roger Utesch, 60, of Brunsville, Iowa, passed away Tuesday afternoon, June 22, 2010, due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 28, 2010, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars, Iowa, with the Rev. Gary Landsness officiating. Interment will be in the St. Peter’s Lutheran Cemetery in Brunsville. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 27, 2010, at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars, with the family present from 5 until 8:00. A prayer service is scheduled to begin at 7:00. The visitation will continue on Monday morning at the church, one hour prior to Roger’s service. Roger Allen Utesch was born on June 30, 1949, in Hawarden, Iowa, the son of Dorothy E. (Haage) and Merlin G. Utesch. He graduated from Le Mars High School, among the class of 1967. Roger married the love of his life, Sharon Kay Bultman, on August 8, 1968, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Chatsworth, Iowa. They became the proud parents of seven children. Roger took great pride in providing for his family. He loved his profession of tractor restoration and the time he spent tinkering on tractors. Roger enjoyed partaking in tractor drives and parades with his prized tractors. Roger treasured his family and the “special joy of being a Grandpa.” He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sports events, camping, dining out, farming, and visiting with everyone. He was a fan of the Minnesota Vikings and Twins, and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Roger had a wonderful sense of humor, was fun-loving, soft-hearted, and will be dearly missed by all who have shared in his life. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Pioneer Machinery Club in Le Mars. Roger is survived by his wife, Sharon of Brunsville; his children, Brian Utesch of Brunsville, Laurie and Brian Rowe, Lisa and Terry Lancaster, Brent and Kristine Utesch, Dawn Utesch and special friend, Michael McLaughlin, and David and Alisa Utesch, all of Le Mars; his two sisters, Janet (Steve) Sneller of Le Mars and Carol Dumas of Kennedy, MN; his two brothers, Curt (Diane) Utesch of Le Mars and Stan Utesch of Brunsville; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Gerald (Judy) Bultman of West Point, GA, Verla (Bill) Meins of Dakota City, NE, and Judy Bultman of Le Mars; and his special friends, Jim and Diana Kenny of Akron. “G-pa” Roger will greatly be missed by his 14 grandchildren, Trey and Alexes Utesch, Larissa, Kendrick and Levi Rowe, Tyler, Brady, Logan and Morgan Lancaster, Cassidy, Peyton and Ethan Utesch, and Jaiden and Jordyn Davison; his first great-grandson, Brayden Rowe-Nunez; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his infant son, Daniel John Utesch; his parents, Merlin and Dorothy Utesch; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, George and Amanda Bultman; and his brother-in-law, Harlan Bultman.

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