Ronald Butz

Ronald Paul Butz went home to be with his Lord on July 27, 2012 at the age of 59 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn.  He died from complications of congestive heart failure.  A funeral service was held for Ronald on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at the Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church, Clear Lake, with Pastor Dan Jordan 

officiating.  Burial was in the Clear Lake Cemetery.  Should friends desire, memorials may be left in Ronald’s name to the Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church.

He was born to Marlyn and Shirley Butz on Aug. 27, 1952. He lived almost his entire life in Clear Lake and began life on the family farm north of Clear Lake. After the passing of his mother in 1968, Marlyn married Eileen Howland Vierkant and Ron got a new younger brother, Alan Vierkant. 

Ron graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1970 and after a year at the University of Northern Iowa he attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ill. There he met Mary Ann Axt of Bloomfield, N.J. in 1973. After nine years, many dates and two proposals, Ronald and Mary Ann were married in 1981 in Marietta, Ga. Commenting on his persistence, Mary Ann says “Ron loved me until I loved him back”. Oh, did he love her, and made a point to tell her so every day. They started new married life working in the family farming business in Clear Lake along with Ron’s father and brother, David Butz, who lovingly nicknamed Ron “George”.  Ron and Mary Ann faithfully attended Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church where Ron served for 17 years as either the sound man or treasurer, sometimes both. After farming, Ron took on different jobs related to agriculture and accounting. Mary Ann puts it well that, “Ron was not in love with his jobs, but he was in love with his family.”

Ron and Mary Ann settled onto Main Avenue in Clear Lake in 1995, raising three daughters.  His greatest achievements: Karen, Susan and Alison think Daddy is the ideal father; always patient, always kind, a great listener and an even better storyteller. 

Ron leaves behind many, his beautiful wife and companion of 31 years, Mary Ann; his children, Karen (Brian) Jordan of Clear Lake and their two children, Ezekiel and Baby J II (soon to be born), Susan (Aaron) Hamilton of Manson, Iowa and their daughter, Kyra, Alison (John) LaFevers of Toccoa, Ga. and their son, Bruin. Ron leaves his two brothers, Dave (Becky) Butz of Clear Lake and Alan (Kari) Vierkant of Allegan, Mich.  Ron also leaves Eileen Butz, the gatherer of the family far and wide, a wonderful grandmother to his daughters and grandchildren; many nephews and nieces, John (Laurie) Butz with Jacob and Jordyn, Sara (Shawn) Puttmann with Kaitlyn and Ben Stroup and Avery, Joel (Melissa) Butz with Grace, and Kristen, Brad and Stephanie Vierkant. Ron also leaves Mary Ann’s family in Georgia, her mother, Edith; six siblings-in-law; four nieces and one nephew. 

Ronald accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at a young age. He strove to make his life and family a reflection of Christ’s love and faithfully prayed that his wife, daughters, their husbands and his grandchildren would love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30). Ron is finally home in heaven where he has longed to be for some time now. We are all very jealous that he beat us there. 

Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.