Jerry “Jake” Butt

Jerry “Jake” Butt of Dows passed away at Brio of Johnston on July 11, 2021.

The funeral service will be Saturday July 17th at 1:00 PM at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Alden with burial in Union Cemetery on the family farm southeast of Dows. Visitation will be at the church from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Friday July 16th and one hour prior to the service. Surls Funeral Home of Iowa Falls is in charge of arrangements.

Jerry was born on June 25, 1963 in Hampton. He was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Alden on July 21, 1963 and confirmed his faith in God on May 1, 1977. His school days were at Dows Community School graduating with the class of 1981. He studied farm operations at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg. In July of 1983 he started working at Eaton’s in Belmond. In 1999 he started farming on a part-time basis with his father. In 2004 he left Eaton’s to pursue farming full-time, but eventually rejoined his Eaton’s family on a part-time basis as needed until 2020.

Jerry was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Alden. He was a fan of the Hawkeyes and Vikings. Jerry enjoyed the fellowship that went with deer hunting, and tractor rides. He helped along with his Dad the Popejoy Lions with Popejoy Day and their tractor raffle. He eventually joined the Dows Lions Club and assisted with the tractor raffle, Dows Corn Days and Shrimpfest. He was also active with the Franklin County Cattlemen and enjoyed tending the grill at many events in Franklin County.

In September 2020 Jerry was diagnosed with glioblastoma an incurable form of brain cancer. While the cancer affected his strength and ability to articulate his thoughts, it could not stop his personality from shining thru. He was a gentle giant with a kind heart that was a friend to everyone that he met.

Jerry is survived by his parents Ivan and Velma of Johnston, his brother Brian and his beloved sister-in-law Nan Boland of Polk City, his aunts Ruth Noelck of Hampton, Alice Heitshusen of Williamsburg, Luella Scott of Mechanicsville and Frances Magdefrau of Belle Plaine, his cousins and their famlies, and his many friends. Preceding him in death were his grandparents, his aunt Martha Lehrman and his uncles, LaVern Meinberg, William Noelck, Melvin Lehrman, Edgar Heitshusen, John D. Scott and Don Magdefrau and cousins Gayle Lehrman, Dean and Mark Heitshusen and Jan Magdefrau.

The family is grateful to all of Jerry’s caregivers, especially the Brio family who cared for Jerry so graciously.

I have put my trust in the Lord God... Psalms 73-28b