Butler, Robert Otis

Robert Otis Butler, 87, died Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, at Silvercrest Care Center in Anamosa, surrounded by his family. Service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at the Goettsch Funeral Home in Anamosa. Pastor Steve Pike will officiate at the service. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Anamosa.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at .

Surviving are his children, Kathy (Dave) Ammeter, Bobbie (Bill) Gersdorf, Peggy Butler and Billy (Sue) Butler; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; a brother, Bill (Sheila) Butler of Cadiz, Ky.; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Rose of Channelview, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Loraine (2002); and son, Robert Earl.

Robert Otis Butler was born Oct. 16, 1925, in Cobb, Ky. He was the son of Dewey and Ruby Mitchell Butler. He attended school in Blue Springs, Ky., where he was been a long standing member of the Blue Springs Baptist Church. His early years were spent tobacco farming with his father and later he served his country in the United States Navy, from Feb. 8, 1944 to April 23 1946, where he was aboard the USS Colorado for much of his service. While in the Navy he was awarded the Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Pacific Campaign medal with four stars and the American Campaign Area Medal. He returned to Kentucky and was united in marriage to Loraine Cleaves on Oct. 22, 1946. The couple then moved to Iowa where Robert was a captain at the Iowa State Men's Reformatory before retiring after 35 years.

Robert was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather and friend and will be missed dearly by those closest to him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Above and beyond Hospice.

Published in The Gazette Sept. 18, 2013.