Luther P. Utesch

Luther Utesch passed away Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at his home.

Luther Paul Utesch was born in the Salem Community parsonage in Brenham, Washington County, on February 8, 1923. His father was the Rev. William Utesch, Lutheran Pastor in Salem, his mother was the former Wally Kunkel, and both were born in Germany. He lived in Salem with his brothers George, John and Albert, and two sisters, Ruth and Wally. Luther was baptized and confirmed in the Salem Lutheran Church by his father.

He went through seventh grade at Salem school where he was never absent or tardy, and then to Brenham High School graduating in 1940. He played football and baseball in high school and after graduation accepted a football scholarship to SMU. After playing freshman football and breaking his ankle, he returned home as his father was quite ill. The next semester he enrolled at Texas A&M University where he was active in intramural sports of football, baseball, and wrestling. He was in the 3rd Headquarters Horse-drawn Field Artillery and was a member of the Singing Cadets choral group in the class of ’45. After his second year, Luther was called to active duty in the army and was then sent back to school for a short period of time until he joined the Army Air Corps. After an honorable discharge from the Army Air Corps in 1945 due to his old foot injury, he reenrolled at A&M where he met Paul LaRoche of Dallas, who became his roommate and later his brother-in-law.

Upon graduation in August 1946 with a BS degree in Business/Marketing, he was offered employment with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Houston as a Commercial Engineer. On November 23, 1946, he married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Marie Dallmeyer, in Brenham. In 1948, he joined her at Humble Oil & Refining Company (Exxon) working as a Statistical and Evaluation Specialist in the Geological Department. He continued there until February 1, 1955, when he was offered a position at the Brenham Wholesale Grocery Co., Inc. in Brenham by his father-in-law C. D. Dallmeyer, the Company President.

Upon acceptance, he, his wife and small daughter Cassandra Ann moved back to Brenham, and three months later another daughter Karen Marie was born. He served first as Assistant Secretary/Treasurer, then Secretary/Treasurer, and later became President of the Corporation in l976. Upon his retirement in December 2007, having served for 52 years, he was presented a plaque which read “In recognition of your loyal and dedicated service”.

He also served as President and CEO of the Brenham Wholesale Grocery Warehouse Company and was State President of the Texas Wholesale Grocery Association. Luther was named “Wholesaler of the Year” for Texas in 1989 by Southwest Food Industries where he served as a Director. He was also Director of the Private Truck Operators of Texas. The National American Wholesale Grocers Association, headquartered in Washington, D.C., named him a National Director under President Drayton McLane.

Luther also served on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Brenham, later Bank of the Southwest, and then M-Bank and Bank One (now Chase Bank). Other boards he has served include: Board of Civil Defense, Board of Brenham Country Club (past President), Washington County Chamber of Commerce (past Vice President), Board of Brenham Gun & Rod Club (past President), Board of the Brazos Valley Development Council, Board of Crime Stoppers, City of Brenham Planning and Zoning Board, CPA Advisory Board, Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association, and Bohne Hospital Advisory Board. In 1960 while serving on the Brenham Independent School District Board of Trustees, Luther was on the School Board selection committee for the location of a new high school which is now Brenham Junior High School.

He was also on the Board of the Brenham Rotary Club and received the honor of being named a “Paul Harris Fellow” in appreciation for his work fundraising for the club. He has served as President of the Washington County Texas A&M Club, was a member of A&M 12th Man Foundation, the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Association, and Buddy Wright Post #48 of the American Legion. He was a Life Member of both the Washington County Heritage Society and the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park Association, and was a member of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation. As a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brenham, Luther has served as Vice President of the Church Council, and also served on the Stewardship Committee, Finance Committee, and the Church Foundation.

Luther loved to play golf, watch Aggie football, spend time with his family and friends, and travel the world. He has been to 65 countries, 49 out of 50 states, and on 24 cruises.

He is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 65 years, their two daughters and families. Cassandra and Bill Ehlert (now president of Brenham Wholesale Grocery Co.) reside in Brenham, and Karen and Bruce Boardman now live in Driftwood, TX. The Ehlerts have two children, Mary and Cole. The Boardmans have a daughter Brittany, married to Jessi Hedland, and a son Matthew, married to Amanda Roberts. Luther was preceded in death by his parents the Rev. William and Wally Utesch, 3 brothers, 2 sisters, 4 half-brothers, and 1 half-sister.

Serving as pallbearers are Luther’s nephews: John Simms, Darrell Blum, Dr. Paul LaRoche III, John Utesch II, Dr. Doug Phillips, Daryl Benkendorfer, Carter Benkendorfer, and Scott Benkendorfer.
Honorary pallbearers are Paul LaRoche, Jr. (brother-in-law), David and Carol Ohlendorf (niece and nephew), Kyle Benkendorfer (nephew), Steven Utesch (nephew), A. C. and Lucille Miller, Jack Appel, Gloria Ehlert, Wallie Duckworth, John Ehlert, Stephen Miller, Russell Engeling, Mike Gonzales, and Ralph Beaudet.

Visitation with the Utesch family will be Friday, January 20th from 5-7 pm at Brenham Memorial Chapel.

After a private burial, a Memorial Service will be held Saturday, January 21st at 11 am at Brenham’s St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at the corner of 305 W. 3rd St. and S. Austin St. Rev. Phil Fenton will officiate.

Memorials may be given to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brenham, Hospice Brazos Valley, or the charity of your choice.

Services are in the care of Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer St., Brenham, TX 77833. 979.836.3611 Condolences may be sent online to the family at www.brenham-memorial-chapel.com.