Obituaries : Floyd Leon Utsinger

Floyd Leon Utsinger, 85, of Belle Plaine, formerly of Oquawka, Ill., passed away Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, at his home, where he was under hospice care with Care Initiative. The family will hold a Celebration of Life Gathering at a later date. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is assisting the family with arrangements.

Floyd "Leon" Utsinger was born Oct. 23, 1938, in DeKalb, Ill., the son to Floyd R. Utsinger and Mary VanWinkle Utsinger. He attended Aledo High School in Illinois, graduating in 1956. He furthered his education at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. On Nov. 6, 1977, Leon and Linda Koenig were married at St. John's Lutheran Church in Marengo. He was employed with John Deere in Moline as a manufacturing engineer, working 30 years, and retiring at the age of 47. Following retirement, Leon stayed busy building houses and additions. He enjoyed woodworking and creating yard art using old implement parts. The couple enjoyed snowmobiling together with their friends for over 25 years. Leon, being mechanically inclined, did most of the maintenance on the snowmobiles. He owned his own plane, a Cessna 150, and loved time in the sky. Boating on the Mississippi was also a favorite activity for Leon and Linda.

Leon is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Linda; three daughters, Bobbi Thomsen and husband Rick of Orion, Ill., Terri Siegel and husband Mike of Vero Beach, Fla., and Jill Osowski and husband Mark, also of Vero Beach. He leaves behind six grandchildren, Brandon and Bryce Thomsen, Damon Wigant, Mitchell Pawli, and Kayla and Andrew Osowski, and five great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his sister Carol Hagan of Cary, Ill., and his brother, Don Utsinger and wife Dianne of Sarasota, Fla., along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials may be contributed to Belle Plaine EMS, Care Initiatives Hospice of Cedar Rapids, or Home Instead of Cedar Rapids. Cards and memorials may be sent to the family in care of Kloster Funeral Home, 298 W. Washington St., Marengo, IA 52301. Online condolences: www.klosterfuneralhomecom.