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Billy Utt
BILLY REX UTT
Cedar Rapids
Billy R. "Bill" Utt, 88, passed away at St. Luke's Hospital's hospice unit in Cedar Rapids on Friday, May 19, 2017, following complications from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident.
He was born July 16, 1928, in Savannah, Iowa, to Thomas F. Utt and Blanche Bullock Utt. Bill was a veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1948 to 1952 in San Diego.
Bill married Mary Louise Chandler, the love of his life, on Sept. 11, 1951. He retired from LeFebure in 1991 after 38 years of employment.
Over the years, he contributed to the community in many ways, including as assistant Boy Scout leader when his sons were members, active membership in the Cedar Rapids Jefferson Athletic Booster Club (1960s to 1980s) and was inducted into the Jefferson High School Athletic Boosters Hall of Fame in 2004.
Bill was an active member of the Elks Grand Lodge No. 251 and received many honors throughout the years, including serving as Exalted Ruler in 2000.
Bill will be remembered for his strong sense of loyalty: to the U.S. Navy, his sports teams the Jefferson J-Hawks, Iowa Hawkeyes and New York Yankees and to his family.
Bill and Mary enjoyed their cabin on the Cedar River for many years, which was a site for reunions, fish fries, picnics and visits from grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Tommy and Blanche Utt; sisters, Betty Whitaker and Marilyn Middletown; brother, Richard D. Utt; and brothers-in-law.
Bill is survived by his wife, Mary; his four children, Marilyn Louise (Richard) Hay of Columbia, Mo., Pamela (Craig) Nelson of Ankeny, Thomas (Amy) Utt of Chesapeake, Va., and Terry (Gail) Utt of Solon; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. Burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel, 1221 First Ave. SW.
Please leave a message for the family on the webpage www.cedar memorial.com under obituaries.
Memorials contributions may be made to the Cedar Rapids Jefferson Athletic Booster Club.
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