Lavern Botcher
November 30, 1934 — June 23, 2017
Lavern Walter Botcher was born on November 30, 1934, the son of Walter and Bertha (Sands) Botcher, on a farm in Anthon, Iowa. He attended country schools in Anthon and worked for various farmers.
On May 2, 1954, Lavern married Alice Dose at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton, Iowa. To this union four children were born: Bruce, Rhonda, Julie, and Brian. The family farmed in various Iowa communities: Anthon, Galva-Schaller, Rural Dow City.
In 1981, Lavern and Alice moved to Oakland when Lavern became employed by Pottawattamie County as a road grader operator until retiring in 1999. Additionally, he started his own business, Botcher Lawn Services. Lavern was innovative and designed and rebuilt a manure spreader to hold and unload grass clippings. Lavern and Alice worked side by side until officially retiring in 2015. The last change of address was moving to Avoca in 1986 and becoming members of Trinity Lutheran Church.
In Lavern’s spare time, he had a passion for polka dancing and if there was a dance you would find him there. He also enjoyed playing Pass the Ace card game; having Martin bird houses in his yard and then watching them; and collecting antique Farmall tractors. Spending many winters in Alamo, Texas, was a treasured place for Lavern and Alice.
Lavern was a man of character demonstrating what it took to be a family man by how he loved Alice-she was everything to him. He was also passionate about family and treating others as he would like to be treated. His work ethic was unmatched by outworking someone half his age; being self-sufficient, tackling a project and seeing it to completion; determined to never give up; and very tenacious. A hand shake was all he needed.
Lavern died on Friday, June 23, 2017, at Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley, Iowa, unexpectantly, having attained the age of eighty-two years, six months, and twenty-four days. He is preceded in death by his parents, son Bruce, and sister Margaret Carlson.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Alice Botcher of Avoca; children Rhonda and her husband Bill Schroeder of Spooner, Wisconsin; Julie and her husband George Malone of Dow City; Brian and his wife Veronica of Littleton, Colorado; eleven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren (even though Alice says all her grandchildren are “great”); sisters Waneta Oliver of Louisville, Kentucky; Sally and her husband Bob Briese of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; nieces and nephews; and many friends.
On May 2, 1954, Lavern married Alice Dose at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Mapleton, Iowa. To this union four children were born: Bruce, Rhonda, Julie, and Brian. The family farmed in various Iowa communities: Anthon, Galva-Schaller, Rural Dow City.
In 1981, Lavern and Alice moved to Oakland when Lavern became employed by Pottawattamie County as a road grader operator until retiring in 1999. Additionally, he started his own business, Botcher Lawn Services. Lavern was innovative and designed and rebuilt a manure spreader to hold and unload grass clippings. Lavern and Alice worked side by side until officially retiring in 2015. The last change of address was moving to Avoca in 1986 and becoming members of Trinity Lutheran Church.
In Lavern’s spare time, he had a passion for polka dancing and if there was a dance you would find him there. He also enjoyed playing Pass the Ace card game; having Martin bird houses in his yard and then watching them; and collecting antique Farmall tractors. Spending many winters in Alamo, Texas, was a treasured place for Lavern and Alice.
Lavern was a man of character demonstrating what it took to be a family man by how he loved Alice-she was everything to him. He was also passionate about family and treating others as he would like to be treated. His work ethic was unmatched by outworking someone half his age; being self-sufficient, tackling a project and seeing it to completion; determined to never give up; and very tenacious. A hand shake was all he needed.
Lavern died on Friday, June 23, 2017, at Alegent Health Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley, Iowa, unexpectantly, having attained the age of eighty-two years, six months, and twenty-four days. He is preceded in death by his parents, son Bruce, and sister Margaret Carlson.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Alice Botcher of Avoca; children Rhonda and her husband Bill Schroeder of Spooner, Wisconsin; Julie and her husband George Malone of Dow City; Brian and his wife Veronica of Littleton, Colorado; eleven grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren (even though Alice says all her grandchildren are “great”); sisters Waneta Oliver of Louisville, Kentucky; Sally and her husband Bob Briese of Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; nieces and nephews; and many friends.
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