Le Mars, Iowa – Ronald Utesch, 78, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Sunday, May 27, 2007 at his home. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Rev. Gary Landsness will officiate. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery in Le Mars. Military honors will be provided by Wasmer Post # 241 of the American Legion. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home of Le Mars. The family will be present from 6-8 p.m. with a prayer service scheduled for 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the funeral.
Ronald Clifford Utesch was born on April 4, 1929 in Le Mars, Iowa to William and Bertha (Gardener) Utesch. He graduated from Le Mars High School in 1947. Ron enlisted in the United States Marines on June 24, 1947. Ron earned his Honorable Discharge on June 23, 1950. He would reenlist with the Marine Corps Reserves and attain the rank of Sergeant prior to his Honorable Discharge on August 19, 1960.
On June 19, 1956 Ron and Helen Mohning were united in marriage at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars. They made their home in Le Mars. Ron worked in Sioux City as an office manager at Palmer Fruit and CM Corporation for 25 years. He then worked at the Le Mars Community Junior High School as head custodian for the next ten years. During his retirement he was the assistant custodian at St. John’s Lutheran Church.
Ron was a (longtime/lifetime) member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and ushered for many years. He was also a member of Wasmer Post #241 of the American Legion in Le Mars. Ron was a Civil War History buff and studied it extensively. He also collected model cars and enjoyed woodworking.
He will be lovingly remembered by his daughter Joni Stieneke and her husband Gary of South Sioux City, NE, three sons Greg and his wife Barb of Ames, IA, Mark and his wife Amanda of Deltona, FL, and John and his wife Julie of Bluff City, TN; six grandchildren Kara and Amanda Stieneke, Libby, Ben, Caleb and Whitney Utesch; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Helen on December 7, 2002; sisters Leila Kruse and Elvira Schulz; and brothers Everett, Arthur, Donald and Arnold.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ronald Utesch, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.