April 22, 1940 – January 30, 2026
Larry R. Boersma, better known as Butch, 85, of Boone passed away peacefully with family by his side on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the Eastern Star Masonic Home. Butch was born April 22, 1940, in Boone, the son of Casey and Naomi Boersma. He attended school in Boone and graduated in the class of 1958.
Butch was united in marriage to the love of his life, Kathleen R. Deal on March 18, 1962. To this union they were blessed with two daughters, Kelle and Chris. They made their home in Boone where Butch was a drywaller owning and running his own business, Boone County Drywall for many years before going to work in Ames until retiring. In 1994, Butch and Kathy purchased and moved to Fraser and ran the Damn Site Restaurant that was home of the “Big Damn Sandwich”, a tenderloin that was as big as the plate. KCCI even did a Karlin Covers Central Iowa story on them.
For over 20+ years they were snowbirds and wintered in Texas, where they met so many wonderful people. When they returned in the Spring, Butch enjoyed mowing at the Don Williams Golf Course where he officially retired from in 2020.
His favorite activities through the years were hunting and fishing, whether it be pheasants, rabbits or squirrels; fishing for crappies, bluegills, walleye, or catfish at a lake or the river and then having family over for big fish fries. He loved to go mushroom hunting, going so far as taking weekend trips to Minnesota in search of them. When the girls were little, they camped almost every weekend of the summer with the camp club, “The Weekend Wanderers”, going all over the state. He also enjoyed golfing, swimming, woodworking, and bowling, especially going to State bowling tournaments. Ultimately, Butch was a man who heard the call of the outdoors, enjoying just getting outside, walking, and enjoying nature as much as he could, right until the end.
For 60 years, Butch was a member of the Moose Lodge #104 in Boone. From when it was uptown on the corner of 7th & Allen St., to the new building, which he had a big part in building, on S. Marshall St., and the current location of 812 8th St. For many years he was part of the Ritual Team as the Chaplain, inducting new members of the Moose Lodge. He was involved in every aspect of the Moose, from cooking, to Bingo, to bartending, to framing the wooden moose head that hangs in the bar still today. But his favorite times at the Moose were sharing a beer with friends and the dances they held regularly on Saturday nights where he would take Kathy out on the dance floor and they would dance the night away.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Casey and Naomi Boersma; sister Sharon and brother-in-law, Andy Anderson; son-in-law, Bobby Duncan; an infant brother, Lyle Boersma and father and mother-in-law, Bud and Viv Deal.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Kathy; daughters, Kelle Cook and Chris Duncan; grandchildren, Nicole (Nate) Cook, Garrett (Katelyn) Cook, Becca Duncan, Brooke (John) Antol; great-grandchildren; Elias, Edison, Elliott, Anthony, Cora & Callum; niece, Melissa Smith Plagge and her children Andrew and Cassandra; along with several other nieces, nephews and in-laws.
There will be a Celebration of life on Sunday, February 8th from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Boone. A graveside service will be held at a later date.
The family requests no flowers. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at 6th and Marshall Street in Boone.
schroedermemorialchapel.com