Donald “Butch” Eldon Craft, 86, of Swaledale, Iowa, passed away October 4, 2024, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
Butch was born December 5, 1937 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; son of Lloyd Donald and Ludmilla (Vomacka) Craft. He attended Cedar Rapids High School and joined the National Guard. He later joined the United States Marine Corps. Butch was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant, February 24, 1958. For seventeen years he worked for IMI Cornelius in both quality control and later as a calibration technician; he retired in 2000. For many years following his retirement, he drove semi for Five Star Co-op out of Rockwell and Burchinal. Butch was united in marriage to Audry David June 23, 1984 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.
Butch often found himself going for rides through the parks. As much as he enjoyed driving, it didn’t take much convincing for him to get his CDL to get paid for it. When he wasn’t on the road, he also enjoyed fishing; especially Macintosh State Park in Clear Lake and the grade over in Ventura. The birds in his backyard were always well fed and watered; Butch would spend a lot of time watching them. While he didn’t always smile, he loved to joke around and was well known for his sense of humor. He’s remembered fondly for his brutal honesty; never afraid to let people know exactly what he thought.
Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Audry; children, Heather (Cory) Hanson, Michael (Bryn Ivonavitch-Craft), Jonathon Craft, Dawn Craft-Nichols, Debbie Craft-Gardener, Lori Craft-Hultz, Cathy (Jerry) Malone, and Jimmy Craft; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; sisters, Lisa Lee, Cindi Craft-Moore, and Linda Craft; sister-in-law, Martha Craft-Rosenberg; as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and extended family.
Preceding him in death are his parents; and brother, John Craft.
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