Joseph Albert Utz

Joseph Albert Utz, passed away on June 25, 2014 at St. Vincent’s Hospital Southside, Jacksonville,FL after 91 years of life and 67 years of marriage to Grace Tomasko Utz. He was born in Scranton, PA on September 5, 1922 to Albert and Mary (Wilcom) Utz, graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Scranton and then served in England, as a First Lieutenant in the Army Air Corps during WWII. He met the love of his life, Grace and married her on October 12, 1946. He worked as a machinist, while raising 3 children, living in Newark, Clifton and finally West Long Branch NJ. In 1970 he founded Accu-Built, Inc. in Red Bank, NJ which he ran successfully until his retirement in 1990. He then moved to Piper’s Grove in Naples, FL and there he enjoyed retirement with his Florida Friends, playing Bridge, Euchre, “Hand and Foot”, Bocce, and any other game that came along. He ran the “neighborhood lottery”, and organized the Casino Night, making the tables, wheels and “horses” in his small garage workshop. For 20 years he served as the unofficial Piper’s Grove “handyman” helping anyone who asked with any need that they might have. He attended mass daily at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, and brought meals weekly to the migrant worker community in Immokalee. He truly loved and enjoyed his friends in Pipers Grove and delayed leaving them as long as he could. In April of 2014 he and Grace moved to Jacksonville to be closer to family and there he died unexpectedly, without pain, after a short illness. He will be remembered as a man who loved his wife Grace, with his whole heart and with his whole soul and who loved his family deeply in a way that only a father could. To his family he was a model of what a husband and father should be and will be a lasting inspiration to them all, and to his friends he will be remembered as a man who cherished their companionship and enjoyed helping others in any way that he could.

He will be missed daily by his wife Grace, Sons Joseph (Kathy) and Kenneth (Maryfran), Daughter Judith (Fred) Arand, 12 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Monday, July 7, 2014 in San Jose Catholic Church 3619 Toledo Road, Jacksonville FL 32217 with Father John Reynolds as Celebrant, followed by interment in Jacksonville National Cemetery.

In Lieu of flowers – Catholic Charities of Jacksonville

Words of comfort can be left at www.hardage-giddenshendricksave.com

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home 4115 Hendricks Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32207. (904) 346-3808.