Elsie M. Utterback Obituary (1930 - 2024)

Elsie M. Utterback, 93, of Pontiac, passed away Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 10:00 p.m. at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Her service will be on Friday, March 8, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Pontiac, with Pastor Gretchen Stinebaugh officiating. A burial will follow at Southside Cemetery in Pontiac. A visitation will be held Thursday March 7, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Duffy-Baier-Snedecor funeral home and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Duffy-Baier-Snedecor Funeral Home, Pontiac, is in charge of arrangements. Elsie was born July 28, 1930, in Paris, IL to Claude and Olive Lou (McCulloch) Wilkins. She married William Dean Utterback on June 29, 1952, in Paris, IL. He passed away July 28, 2000. She is survived by her children, Deborah (Mike) Cangiolosi of Wilkesboro, NC, Joyce Barnard of Pontiac, IL, Jenifer Skaggs of Chenoa, IL, and Jeffrey Utterback of Pontiac; grandchildren, Jason (Jackie) Holzhauer, Matthew (Melissa) Cangiolosi, Eric Cangiolosi, and Alyson Utterback; great grandchildren, James Cangiolosi, Audrey Cangiolosi, Lorelai Barlow, Aiden Cangiolosi, Adelynn Cangiolosi, and sister Martha Jane Fancher of Pontiac. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William; daughter, Laura Utterback; grandson, Philip Holzhauer; brother, George Wilkins; sister, Mary Lou Sutter and sons-in-law, Gary Barnard, and Randy Skaggs. Elsie attended Paris grade and high schools and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education at Illinois State University. She was a teacher for 31 years, with eight years in Paris, IL, and 23 years in Pontiac. She was a member of the Alpha Mu chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, Athenia Literary Club, Livingston County Retired Teachers Association, Chief Pontiac Chapter of D.A.R. serving as Regent from 2007 to 2009, and a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Pontiac. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Pontiac. Online condolences may be made to the family at duffyfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.