Roger C. Utke

Roger C. Utke, 93, who had resided in Shawano and Marinette, passed away Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, at Manor Care in Shawano. He was born Jan. 17, 1921, in Shawano. Roger was a graduate of Shawano High School, Class of 1938. He enlisted in the United States Navy in February 1939 and was assigned to the Great Lakes Training Center and later San Diego for hospital corpsman school. He advanced to the U.S. Naval Hospital at Pearl Harbor and was serving there during the Japanese attack in 1941. Later in World War II, he served aboard hospital ships in the South Pacific campaign. On Aug. 19, 1945, he married the former Mildred G. DeSwarte. Roger continued duty assignments aboard ship after his marriage and was based in Seattle and San Francisco. He remained in the Naval Reserve and was called to active duty during the Korean War. After returning to Shawano, he was employed as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. He also worked part-time as a driver for the former Karth-Kopitzke funeral home. Roger and Mildred moved in 1989 to Marinette, where he resided until moving into care facilities. Mildred preceded him in death on Oct. 28, 2007. In Marinette, he was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church. Roger is survived by a niece, Rose (Dave) Berkhahn, of Shawano; two grandnieces, Jodi (Matt) Ciesielczyk, of De Pere, and their children, McKenna and Jaden, and Cari (Jamie) Hillsberg, of Navarino, and their children, Aiden and Hadley; an aunt-in-law, Doris Hoffman, of Shawano; a cousin, Diane (Tom) Eggert, also of Shawano, and their children, Corey (Dustin) Beyer, Jason (Erika) Eggert and Jacob Eggert; and several other cousins. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Melvin DeSwarte, and his wife, Anne. Friends may call at Zion Lutheran Church, 2714 James St., Marinette, from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Keith A. Kolstad officiating. Interment will be in the Southeast Wisconsin Veteran’s Cemetery in Union Grove. Hansen-Onion-Martell funeral home, Marinette, is assisting the family.