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Delbert L. Utphall, 77, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, died on Tuesday, December 9, 2008, at Luther Hospital from septicemia and complications of
glioblastoma, with members of his loving family by his side.
Delbert Lew Utphall was born on April 6, 1931, in Downing, Wisconsin, the first son of Martha Freda Minnie Voelker and Ronald Morton
Utphall. When he was a small child, his family moved to Eau Claire where he attended Lake Hallie Grade School until he was six years old when his father was killed in a car accident. His mother and the four children moved back to Downing and later moved to
Boyceville, where he attended school and graduated from high school. |
In September, 1949, Delbert enlisted in the United States Army, trained at Ft.
Ord, California, and boarded ship headed for Korea. His unit, the 500th Antiaircraft Army Detachment, was taken off the ship and transferred to Ft. Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska, where he worked with radar and in the motor pool at Elmendorf Air Base, during the Korean War. He was later transferred to Camp Lucas, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and in December of 1952, received an honorable discharge as a corporal in the U. S. Army.
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On June 14, 1951, he married Paula E. Krueger at Knapp, Wisconsin and then moved to Eau Claire where they have resided since 1953. Delbert was a member of Lake St. United Methodist Church since 1953, where he worked with the summer drive-in services and was a member of the new church committee, which founded Hope United Methodist Church.
Delbert worked as service manager for a number of different car dealerships, including Litchfield Auto Sales, Weigand Auto Sales, and ended his auto career delivering parts for Markquart Toyota. He was always very interested in cars, and was a wonderful diagnostician in determining car problems. He taught auto mechanics at Chippewa Valley Technical College for a number of years, and was recently honored by serving on the Auto Advisory Board for over 25 years. He also had a lifelong interest in airplanes. He was always willing to talk cars to anyone who would listen, and he usually had a joke or two to tell them as well.
He is survived by his wife, Paula; sons, George (Elizabeth) of Eau Claire, James (Marina Liadova) of Roseville, Minnesota, John (Sandy) of Menomonie, and daughter, Elizabeth Evans (Dan Walsh) of Eau Claire. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Rev. Nicholas Utphall (Acacia Latka) of Madison, Katharine Utphall of Madison, Jamie Anna Utphall of Madison, Brenna Utphall of Menomonie, Brett and Faithie Evans of Eau Claire, and Boris Glazman of Roseville; two sisters, Audrey (Bill) Anderson of Boyceville and LaVonne (Peter) Bodette of Dennison, Minnesota; his sister-in-law, Frances Schlottman and his brother-in-law, Fritz (Shelley) Krueger; special cousin, Kenneth (Linda) Voelker, as well as, many other cousins, nephews, nieces, relatives and dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law, Paul A. Krueger; his brother, M. Ronald Utphall; nephews, Steve Nelson and Wm. C. "Andy" Anderson.
Delbert was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and will be sorely missed. His last words were "You're a wonderful family."
Special thanks to the nurses and staff of 4500 and the CCU at Luther Hospital.
Visitation will be held at Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home, 3209 Rudolph Rd., on Friday, December 12, from 5-7 P.M. and an hour prior to services on Saturday at the church. Funeral services will be held at Lake St. United Methodist Church, Eau Claire, on Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 1 P.M.
Inurnment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Knapp, Wisconsin, in the spring. Memorials may be given in Delbert's name to Lake St. Methodist
Church, 337 Lake Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703.
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