Paul C. Utemark Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Memorial service for Paul will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 2, 2017, at the Evangelical Free Church in Geneva, Nebraska. with Pastor Jeff Jensen officiating. A service at the graveside with committal of ashes will be in the Kilfoil Cemetery, at Merna, Nebraska at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 3, 2017. Memorials are directed to the family for later designation in lieu of flowers. Paul C. “Butch” Utemark, IV was born to Paul F. Utemark, III and Sharon A. (Frink) Utemark on November 20, 1959 at Wayne, NE. He passed away May 24, 2017 at his home in Geneva, surrounded by family, at the age of 57. He was the oldest of five sons in the family, growing up in Emerson, NE, where he graduated from Emerson-Hubbard High School in 1978. He went on to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln where he received his bachelors degree in Business Administration in 1983. Paul met the girl of his dreams at college, Lori K. Jacobsen, of Merna, NE and they were married August 14, 1982 in Lincoln, NE. To this union God blessed two children, Brindi K. and Derek J. In 1983, the couple moved to Wakefield, NE, where Paul worked for the M.G. Waldbaum Co. (later Michael Foods), working his way up to the senior leadership team. In 1990 he returned to school, earning his master’s degree from the Univ. of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD. In 1997, the family moved to Spencer, IA ,where Paul worked for different egg entities, in addition to doing some consulting work. In 2003, Paul and Lori returned to Nebraska and resided in Ainsworth, where Paul took the position of CEO of the Nebraska ESU Purchasing Co-op. 2008 brought a move to Geneva, NE where he became the CEO of the Fillmore County Hospital and led the hospital until his battle with cancer no longer allowed. Paul had a deep love for the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was constantly thinking of others and ministering to them while sacrificing his own comforts. Paul adored Brindi and Derek and coached every sport in which they participated, from t-ball and soccer, to football, baseball, and basketball. Paul enjoyed kids of all ages and mentored everyone, from the young to the elderly. His true pleasures came from rural Nebraska life, being with family, his love of the Lord, and the staff that he could lead. Paul and Lori enjoyed traveling, Nebraska athletics, and time serving others. Some of Paul’s favorite mantras by which he lived included, “Be the hardest worker with the best attitude,” “It’s not about who’s right, it’s about what’s right,” and “Have you looked at it through their eyes?” And of course, we all knew he was “better than he deserved,” a saying which he truly believed. Paul is survived by his love of 35 years, Lori, daughter Brindi (Joe) Streufert, and son Derek. He is also survived by his parents, Paul and Sharon, brothers Jeff, Kirk (Sheryl), Kipp (Peg), and Kyle (Jen), father-in-law, Paul Jacobsen, brothers- and sisters-in-law: Dougg & LeAnn Custer, Jim & Selma Bull, Ron & Judy Jacbosen, and John & Janet Jacobsen. Paul delighted in all of his nieces and nephews: ReAnne (Brandon) Wentz, Arissa Utemark, Preston & Payton Utemark, Diron (Amy) Jacobsen, Bobbi (Jared) Pettit, Roni Jacobsen, Andi (Jennifer) Custer, Scott (Fiona) Custer, Katrina Custer, Jeff (Ashley) Bull, Jenny Jacobsen, Katie (Michael) Allison, as well as their children. He is also survived by many other family members, friends, and the lives he touched in every community in which he served. Paul was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bert & Delores Frink and Paul C. II and Anna Utemark, his mother-in-law, Emily Jacobsen, aunts Vera Mackling and Alice Tullberg, uncle Larry Utemark, sister-in-law, Barbara Bull, nephew, Jonathan Jacobsen, and niece, Jamie Bull.

Tributes

Paul C. Utemark

November 20, 1959 - May 24, 2017