Dr. Frank Alan Utes
Our beloved Dr. Frank Alan Utes, 69, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 25, at his home in Winamac.
He was born on April 20, 1951, in Chicago, to Frank E. and Esther (Rowoldt) Utes. Alan graduated from Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1969, and University of Illinois in 1973. He earned his doctorate at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1978. On June 23, 1973, Alan married Karen M. Younker in Rochester, Illinois. In 1979, they moved to Winamac where they raised their three daughters, Christy, Julie and Laurie.
Alan was a board certified family practice physician for 46 years, retiring from the Pulaski Memorial Hospital Clinic in December 2019. He served most his medical career alongside his faithful staff at Utes Family Practice. He also served on the medical staff of Pulaski Memorial Hospital (PMH) since 1979 and on the PMH Board of Trustees for several years.
Alan was a dedicated member of First Christian Church in Winamac, where he served many roles including elder, trustee and deacon as well as a longtime board member and former chairman of Guidance Nursery School. Throughout the years, he enjoyed being a part of the church choir, musical productions and bell choir. He was a talented Sunday school, VBS, and Junior Church teacher. Alan will always be remembered for his lively children’s sermons and entertaining stints as worship leader.
Throughout his life in Winamac, Alan was involved in numerous community activities, which usually started with his loving support of his daughters. For many years, Alan coached softball and baseball. He spent many summer nights in the town park as the commissioner of the summer softball league as well as many Friday nights in the fall on the sidelines serving as team doctor for the Winamac Warrior football team. Alan was a former member of the Winamac Kiwanis Club and recently became a board member of the Pulaski Animal Center.
Alan had various hobbies and interests, including gardening, fishing, horsemanship, tennis, swimming and cross-country skiing. Many did not know that he was a talented artist and that his oil paintings rivaled those of Bob Ross. He also dabbled in gem cutting and stained glass creations.
More than anything else, Alan loved his family very much, especially his grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his wife Karen M. (Younker) Utes of Winamac; daughters: Christy [Jason] Hague of Winamac, Julie [Mike] Warner of Anderson, and Laurie Utes of Greenville, South Carolina; granddaughters: Ella Hague of Winamac, and Emily Warner of Anderson; grandsons: Alex Hague of Winamac, and Blake Warner of Anderson; father Frank E. Utes of Des Plaines, Illinois; brothers: Gary [Marci] Utes and Glen Utes; sister Karen [Jim] Chelsvig; and several nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his mother Esther (Rowoldt) Utes.
Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 1, at First Christian Church in Winamac, with Pastor Jeff Seger officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, Guidance Nursery School, or Pulaski Animal Center.
Online tributes may be offered at www.frainmortuary.com.
(Pulaski County Journal — March 31, 2021)