Boots Jr., Arthur

Arthur Boots Jr. 81, of Anamosa, died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, at his home. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Anamosa, with Father Wayne Droessler officiating. Burial, with military honors: Holy Cross Cemetery, Anamosa. Visitation: 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Lawrence Community Center, Anamosa, with a rosary recited at 2 p.m. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, is in charge of arrangements.

Arthur is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; two daughters, Anna Mary Riniker (Mike) of Anamosa and Bonnie BootsMiller (Tom Miller) of Mount Vernon; four grandchildren, Arthur Charles BootsMiller, Jackson Owen BootsMiller and Ian Jarrod BootsMiller of Mount Vernon and Elizabeth Maurita Riniker of Anamosa; and two brothers, Albert of Wyoming and Howard (Velma) of Marion.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bernard “B.R.”; and a sister, Kathrine Whittemore.

Arthur Boots Jr. was born Oct. 27, 1930, in Morley, Iowa, the son of Arthur Boots Sr. and Theresa Young Boots. He attended the Jones County schools. He later received his high school diploma in 2000 from Anamosa High School. He served with the U.S. Marines from 1952-1954. Junior married Elizabeth Foote on Aug. 3, 1959, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Anamosa. He farmed, worked for the Iowa State Highway Commission, and owned and operated Boots Nursery, Inc.

Junior was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Anamosa, the Knights of Columbus, Rotary, Eagles and the Iowa Nurserymans' Association.

He served on the Anamosa City Council, and was a charter member of the Marine Corps League Cedar Valley Detachment No. 099. He enjoyed being outdoors and spending his time sawing lumber, working with wood and planting trees.

Semper Fi - Well done, good and faithful servant, well done.

A memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at

Published Jan. 2, 2012, in The Gazette