Lemars Semi-Weekly Sentinel Tuesday August 24, 1915

Obituary

Leeds Sun: Mr. Utecht was born in Germany August 26, 1856. he came to America with his parents in 1881 to Brooklyn, N.Y. They resided there about a year after which they removed and came to Plymouth County in the fall of 1882, where they settled on a farm near Kingsley, Iowa. He was married to Miss Louisa Hoffman on April 1, 1886, at Lemars, Iowa. They resided on a farm in that vicinity until about five years ago when they retired and moved to Leeds, where they have since resided.

Mr. Utecht was a genial, warm hearted gentleman, was loyal to his friends, and was upright and prompt in his dealing with his fellow citizens. He had ample means and he gave his family the best of opportunities. He was a frugal, dutiful, considerate husband and one of the most solicitous and conscientious of fathers.

He bore his physical trial with a sense of Christian fortitude that was as surprising as it was edifying. That a life of usefulness, honor and piety may be crowned with eternal reward is the fervent prayer of the many who knew him.

He leaves a wife, five sons and four daughters. The sons are William, Fred and Charles, who reside on farms near Kingsley; George, a farmer at St. James, Minnesota.; and Henry, of Leeds. The daughters are; Mrs. Emma Barnes, of James; Mrs. Martha Rawson of Moville, and Misses Caroline and Elsie Utecht, of Leeds.

Funeral services were held at the family residence, after which the funeral procession went to the German Lutheran church where Rev. Paul H. Mattaidesz officiated. Internment was in the family lot in Lincoln Township Cemetery. General and sincere sympathy is extended to the sorrowing wife and children and to all grieving friends.






Ferdinand August Utecht was born in Gross Hammer, Pomerania and came to the United States on March 28, 1881 on the SS Suevia. He was married first to Wilhelmine Kowalke in Plymouth County, Iowa on March 2, 1883. They had 2 sons, Wilhelm and Frederick. Wilhelmine Kowalke Utecht died on October 9, 1885 in Plymouth County, Iowa. Ferdinand August Utecht remarried Louisa Hoffman on April 1, 1886 in Plymouth County, Iowa. They had 7 children together and Louisa had a son, George, from a previous marriage. Ferdinand and Louisa Utecht are my gg-grandparents.