Adrian "Butch" Merle Warntjes

Rock Valley, IA: Adrian “Butch” Warntjes, 78, of Rock Valley, Iowa, formerly Boyden, Iowa, died Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Hegg Health Center in Rock Valley. Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 28, at 10:30 AM at Boyden First Reformed Church with Pastor Keith Sietstra and Rev. Mike Molenaar officiating. Burial will follow at Sheridan Township Cemetery of Boyden. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Wednesday, January 27, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Boyden First Reformed Church. Memorials may be given to Boyden First Reformed Church or Faith Reformed Church of Rock Valley. 

   Adrian “Butch” Merle Warntjes, son of Walter and Esther (Den Hartog) Warntjes, was born on the family farm near Boyden, Iowa. Butch attended school through the 8th grade and then it was time to go to work on the farm. Butch was united in marriage with Patricia Van’t Hul on January 13, 1961, at Rock Valley, Iowa. The couple lived their entire married life in Boyden and were blessed with raising 5 sons, Alan, Arnie, Wendell, Heath, and Todd! Butch and Pat celebrated 50 years together. Pat died September 12, 2011. Butch would later meet Judy (Vande Weerd) Van Driel. The couple married on February 7, 2013, and made their home in Rock Valley.

   Butch was a man that could do about anything. If he could think about something, he could do it, and when he did it, he had one speed…fast. Over the years he drove a feed truck, creamery truck, worked at a lumberyard, farmed, and accomplished a few other things along the way too. The last several years he mowed for the City of Rock Valley. To say he was meticulous would be an understatement. His cars and lawn were always in pristine condition. Butch also had a love for old tractors, cowboy boots, country western music, and socializing with people. He was a longtime member of the Boyden First Reformed Church and more recently Faith Reformed Church of Rock Valley.

   Butch is survived by his wife, Judy of Rock Valley; 5 sons, Alan (Sheryl) Warntjes, Arnie (Nel) Warntjes, both of Boyden, Wendell (Barb) Warntjes of Alton, Iowa, Heath (Robbie) Warntjes of Boyden, and Todd (Heidi) Warntjes of Rock Rapids, Iowa; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; 3 step-children, Terry (Arla) Van Driel of Rock Valley, Lori Van Driel of Doon, Iowa, and Todd (Sheila) Van Driel of Rock Valley; 7 step-grandchildren; 17 step-great-grandchildren; sister, Joyce (John) Kroese of Hull, Iowa; 2 brothers, Wayne (Sue) Warntjes of Texas, and Mark (Cindy) Warntjes of Boyden; and siblings-in-law, Jerry (Judy) Van’t Hul, Marcia Van’t Hul, both of Rock Valley, Audrey Van Maanen of Colorado, Alyce (Bill) Keegan of Arizona, and Byron Vande Weerd of Rock Rapids.

   He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Esther; first wife, Pat; daughter-in-law, Lisa Warntjes; 2 infant great-grandchildren, Taylon Vande Kamp and Autumn Hoekstra; and 2 brothers-in-law, Duane Van’t Hul and Ed Van Maanen.