Wilson Dean Butler was born February 17, 1941, to Forrest and Viola (DeWinter) Butler, in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Dean grew up on the farm and attended Sandridge Country School. Dean was a 1959 graduate of Pella High School, where he played football and ran a 100-yard touchdown, all the way out of the end zone!

He married Karen Louise Van Wyk on June 3, 1960, at Otley Reformed Church. When they were first married, they rented the upstairs of the Wyatt Earp House in the Historical Village.

After high school Dean tried many different trades. The love of carpentry was strong. In 1970  Butler Building was established. While Karen was home raising five daughters, Dean was not only building homes, he was building relationships and investing in the lives of everyone he touched.

Dean and Karen also completed many mission trips. He went to Texas, Kentucky, Alabama, Alaska, Joplin, MO, Wyoming, and Oklahoma.

Dean spent many hours helping at Lakeview Camp, Riverside Church, Marion County Habitat for Humanity, Historical Village, and Pella Food Shelf.

He spent many hours helping with projects for his daughters and grandkids. The daughters always came before mom's projects.  He sometimes thought our ideas were crazy, but he always made them come to life.

Dean was a member of Trinity Church where he was an Elder and Deacon several times. Dean and Karen were youth group leaders and Sunday school teachers for several years.  They took many mission trips with youth groups.

He also loved when all of his family came together and had a great time listening to them laugh and have a good time.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Karen and their family:

Valerie Butler

Maddison Guerena

Cruz, Lex

Amelia Guerena & Joe Sandoval

Rowan, Bellamy

Macey Guerena

Niya, Romeo

Ariana Guerena & James Krall

Lori & the late Curtis Meyers

Christopher & Alex Meyers

Kimberly & Greg Roose

Chelsea & Payton Smith

Bexley Bree

Blaire Dean born January 15 at 7:52 am

Lindsey Roose & Ty White, fiancé

Kristy & Greg Van Maanen

Morgan & Kent Beyer

Jordan & Mark Vande Haar

Reagan Van Maanen

Heather & Scott Amos

DeStaja

Hailey

He is also survived by his sisters: Bonnie (Bill) McKibben of St. Charles, Iowa, and Cindy (Alan) Roorda of Pella.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents Forrest and Viola Butler, parents-in-law Lewis and Evelyn Van Wyk-Boat, son-in-law Curtis Meyers, and siblings: Phyllis Butler and LouAnn (Art) Schuring.

Lake View Camp
P.O. Box 836, Pella IA 50219

Trinity Church
Pella IA