Glenn S. Utt Jr.

Glenn was born on August 7, 1926, to Glenn S. Utt Sr. and Reba White-Utt in Neodesha, Kansas.

As an only child Glenn enjoyed working in his grandfather’s grocery store and his father’s furniture stores both in Neodesha. Glenn graduated high school one year early and promptly joined the United States Navy to fight for freedom in WWII with his parents needed written permission. Reporting for duty in 1944, he started training at the Great Lakes Naval Center and Wright Junior College as an Electrical Technician eventually being selected as a sonar operator in a flat bottom mine sweeping vessel in the Pacific Ocean. With this highly classified technology being a new big advantage in war Glenn was given a “not to be captured” order and carried a cyanide pill with him at all times. Glenn received orders on September 4, 1945 to prepare for an invasion of Japan and began training on Okinawa for the mission of locating and clearing underwater mines. Although the invasion was cancelled with Japan’s surrender, Glenn was one of the first U.S. servicemen to deploy into the ruins of Hiroshima and he never forgot that disturbing experience.

Upon his return to the states, Glenn attended Kansas State where he met Mary Lou Ford and received his electrical engineering degree. He married Mary Lou on August 8, 1948, and continued on to Harvard University and received a MBA, graduating with the highest honors. After graduation he pursued several different career paths and lived and traveled throughout Europe for a number of years as a consultant and partner with Booze, Allen and Hamilton. In 1962 he started his final career path at Abbott Laboratories north of Chicago where he reached the position of Executive VP and a member of their board of directors. Glenn retired early from Abbott Labs in 1984 at the age of 55. He went on to serve on several bio-tech boards in the years to come. Glenn and Mary Lou also co-authored a book on Lalique perfume bottles, which they enjoyed collecting and sharing their knowledge of. They were honored their collection was displayed around the world and they also enjoyed doing symposiums on the same subject. Glenn was also active in real estate and partnered with Gary & Jan Lubinski in the purchase of the Franklin Square Inn of Houghton where he actively assisted in its operation. Glenn was always a numbers man and a good day for him involved sitting at his desk reviewing financial information or solving business conundrums.

Glenn is survived by his wife Mary Lou; their only child, Jan Utt Lubinski and her husband Gary Lubinski of Chassell; grandson, Mike Lubinski with Missy Lubinski of Houghton and their children Tyler, Grant and Morgan; grandson, Jack Lubinski of Chicago, Illinois; granddaughter, Mia Lubinski-Bidle with Geoff Bidle of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Glenn will be missed by all that knew him as a kind and fair man. Due to health concerns, a small memorial service for Glenn will be held later this year and will be announced by the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home of Hancock, Antila Funeral Service, Inc. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.