LaVerne “Butch” Paul Forbes
FORBES, BUSTER, HOUSER, SHELLADY, GRABER
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 11/21/2023 at 09:21:28
LaVerne “Butch” Paul Forbes, 80, of Iowa City, IA passed away peacefully at Mercy Hospital in the early morning of October 18, 2023.
Butch was born to Lester and Allene (Buster) Forbes on March 5, 1943, in Muscatine, Iowa. He spent his childhood growing up on a farm in Lone Tree before moving with his family to Coralville at the age of 12. After graduating from Iowa City High School in 1961, Butch joined the United States Marine Corps. He served from 1961 through 1965, working on jet engines during the Vietnam Conflict.
On September 16, 1967, after completing his military service, Butch married his high school classmate, Bonnie Houser. They had two children, Lance and Mindy.
Butch went to work for the Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company (later MidAmerican Energy Company) in 1966 and worked as a Customer Service Technician until retiring in 2014. During his time with MidAmerican Energy, Butch become a recognized member of the Iowa City community, working with many area construction and development leaders.
Butch had many, many interests. He and his son, Lance, bonded over duck and squirrel hunting; Butch helped to found and grow the Hawkeye Area chapter of wetland conservation organization, Ducks Unlimited and was recognized for his leadership efforts. Butch was an avid Hawkeye fan, attending hundreds of football, basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball games, gymnastics meets, and especially Hawkeye wrestling meets. Butch attended over 40 NCAA National Wrestling Championship tournaments, watching the Hawkeye wrestling legacy grow. At home, Butch grew all sorts of fruits and vegetables that he loved sharing with family, friends, and neighbors: tomatoes, peas, onions, radishes, cucumbers, eggplant, potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, grapes, raspberries, blackberries, and so much more. Butch could also be found taking in classic westerns: Grit, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and many a John Wayne film. He loved classic cars, catching NASCAR races, or stock car races in West Liberty, and attending dozens of Hallmark ornament conventions, enabling Bonnie’s annual trove Hallmark Christmas ornament purchases.
Butch was an active member of the Iowa City area community—in addition to Ducks Unlimited, Butch was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, the American Legion, the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, the Hawkeye Area Wrestling Klub, the Moose Club, and the Hallmark Keepsake Club.
Butch will be best remembered for his dependability and preparedness. He was never without his red, Swiss pocketknife, a pen, a small, wooden toothpick holder, and a handkerchief. When someone had a need, he made sure that need was met—be it a ride to an appointment, help with a vehicle, groceries, or a way out when you were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Butch was there—always present, ready to lend a hand and make sure you knew he cared for you. He’ll be remembered for prioritizing his family—attending his kids’ and grandkids’ countless wrestling tournaments, baseball, football, or soccer games, choir concerts, recitals, plays and musicals, graduations, weddings, and important occasions. He knew what it meant to provide support by showing up—he modeled it. His family is closer and will always be more connected because of those efforts, and for that we are all forever grateful.
Butch is survived by his wife Bonnie; children Dr. Lance Forbes, D.D.S., and Mindy Forbes (Travis Graber); grandchildren, Ryan Forbes-Shellady (Victoria Shellady), Anna and Abby Forbes, Colt and Sage Graber; brother David Forbes; brother-in-law Woodrow Houser, and sister-in-law Christa Houser. Butch was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Allene Forbes and by in-laws, Walter and Helen Houser, and William, Anton, and Lawrence Houser.
A visitation will take place on Tuesday, October 24 at Lensing Funeral Home located at 605 Kirkwood Ave. in Iowa City from 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. A short service of remembrance, led by Butch’s grandson, Ryan Forbes-Shellady, will start at 7:00 p.m. A graveside service with military honors provided by the American Legion will take place Saturday, October 28 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Iowa City followed by a luncheon at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family. The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Craig Champion and Jessie for their great care of Butch over many years.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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