Donald Lee Butler

Donald Lee Butler passed away Thursday, July 22 at Arlington Place Grundy Center, Iowa. Visitation will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1 at Abels Funeral and Cremation Service, Engelkes Chapel in Grundy Center, Iowa. The funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 2 at Abels Funeral and Cremation Service, Engelkes Chapel. Burial will follow services at Sheller Cemetery in rural Grundy County, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to Camp Pine Lake or to Cedar Valley Hospice. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.abelsfuneralhomes.com

Donald Lee Butler was born on Sept. 30, 1933, at David I. Meyer’s home in Melrose Township Grundy County, Eldora, Iowa. His parents were D. L. Butler and Zelma Ida Pierce. Donald attended Country School, Melrose #5 from 1937-1940 and Whitten Consolidated School from 1940-1946. He attended Eldora High School from 1946-1951. He was excited to attend McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas from 1951-1955 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Army for two years in Korea, as a medical aidman and company clerk from 1955-1957.

After Don and Velva’s wedding on May 19, 1957, they moved to a farm near Eldora, Iowa. Don farmed while Velva taught school. He also worked part time as a truck driver and corn sheller operator from 1957-1967. He retired from farming in 2005.

Don enjoyed reading, attending community concerts in Marshalltown and Shell Rock, traveling with Velva on many motor coach trips, taking vacations with his brother, sister in-law, and sister to see various parts of the United States and spending time with his grandkids and great grandkids at their many activities. He was a hard-working, loving, supportive father, helping his children whenever necessary and showing by words and deeds how to live a full life with God in the center.

Don was very service oriented. He was a member of the Ivester Church of the Brethren from age 11 until his passing. He served on the church board, church clerk and various other positions in the church. He served on various other organizations in the community. He was also Camp Pine Lake Church Camp treasurer since 1967. He was on the Sheller Cemetery Board as President and Treasurer since 1975. He served as President, Vice President, and clerk on the Grundy Mutual Insurance Board since 1974. Donald was an agent for Grundy Mutual Insurance from 1974 – 2000. Don was also a member of the Grundy County Farm Bureau since 1953.

Don leaves behind his son David (Yolanda) Butler of Eldora, Iowa, and daughter Denise (Shannon) Hull of Waverly, Iowa; 5 grandchildren Daniel (Alisa) Butler of Grundy Center, Iowa, Rachel Edittu of Eldora, Iowa, Quinton (Grace) Butler of Iowa Falls, Iowa, Keaton (Sydney) Hull of Urbana, Iowa, and Danae Hull of Waverly, Iowa; great-grandchildren Blessing-Marie Edittu, Abigail Butler, Ellie Butler, Alexander Butler, Sylvia Butler, Lance Hull, and Roseanna Hull; his sister Eileen Butler of Hillsboro, Kansas; brother-in-law Irvin (JoAnn) Wagner of Norman, Oklahoma; and four nieces and one nephew. He was preceded in death by his wife Velva Butler; his parents D. L. and Zelma Butler; brother Ed Butler; sister-in-law Judy Butler; and grandson in law Usen Edittu.