Allan Utter, 57, fire chief of the River Grove Fire Department, died Wednesday, May 31, of heart failure at Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago. Mr. Utter, who was born in Chicago, moved to River Grove when he was 13. Mr. Utter joined the River Grove Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter when he was 23. He remained at the River Grove Fire Department as a volunteer until the chief’s position became full time in 1998. Mr. Utter also worked briefly at the Elk Grove Village Fire Department. He later became a salesman for Stoody Co., a welding supply company based in Kentucky. After about 25 years in that position, he become the full-time fire chief in River Grove. Mr. Utter is survived by his daughter, Holly; a son-in-law, Corey Kessler; and his granddaughter, Claudette Kessler. Mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Cyprian Catholic Church, 2601 N. Clinton St., River Grove.
