John A. Botts

John Arthur Botts passed away at his home at the Courtyard Estates in Bondurant on September 16, at the age of 91. John was born on a farm near Savannah, Davis County, on January 18, 1918. He was the eighth of ten children born to Samuel Botts and Grace Myrtle Kratzer Botts. He graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1936 and later, the Carbondale Soil Conservation Technical School. While working in Bloomfield at Ray B. Baumgarten Clothier, he met Luzon Earlene Brooks of Troy, IA and they married on May 17, 1942, in Floris. In 1944, John and Luzon moved to Albia and lived there until their recent move to Bondurant. In 1952, John built their home on N 3rd Street and over the years constructed or refinished most of its furnishings. Throughout his 38 year career with the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service, John's gifts of humor, knowledge, technical skills, and ability to teach, helped Monroe County farmers and landowners make wise use of natural resources. John began working with the service in its infancy, only ten years after its authorization by Congress to counteract the environmental "dust-bowl" in the 1930's. "I remember days in Iowa that were like dusk, with the air full of soil from Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska," he said. As one of the pioneer technicians, John helped farmers plan and construct soil erosion and water control structures, together with more environmentally friendly agricultural practices. He was recognized statewide for outstanding service and improved field operations. After his retirement he worked on a four-county project that replaced bridges with earthen-filled dams that also resulted in recreational areas. John said, "It's natural for people to resist change and sometimes these concepts require an investment in different farm equipment. But once they understood the idea, most people were easy to work with." Those same attributes he used in working with farmers were applied in his volunteer service to the community. As a founding member of the Monroe County Conservation Board, John was part of the group to envision a county conservation park and purchase the land to create Lake Miami. As a supervisor of the Frances Cooper endowment John advised the streetscape landscaping projects to beautify Albia and served as Chairman of the Albia Cemetery Association. He was president of the Albia chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. John's other volunteer activities focused on the church and youth. They include serving as the church treasurer for 25 years and as Elder and Deacon of First Christian Church. His advice and experience benefitted children in his role as a Scout Master, PTA president, church youth conference counselor, Sunday School teacher, and mentor for youth joining the church. He enjoyed holding wood restoration and refinishing workshops at his home for 4-H members, and assisted kids who were interested in building small woodshop projects. He built and upholstered 25 child-size sofas, some donated to raise funds for charity and others as gifts. He encouraged children to use their imaginations at the woodworker's shop he helped organize during Restoration Days. After retirement, he began watercolor painting and then taught residents at local nursing homes. He was known for showing his appreciation of others by giving his paintings, often in wood frames he constructed, or cookies he baked. He was a keen observer of people and master storyteller. John donated his body to the University of Iowa Medical School and at a later time cremains will be interred at Troy, Davis County, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Floyd Botts, Florence Botts, Pauline Rominger, Mary Kinnamon, Audrey Botts, Evelyn Septer, Harold Botts, Sam Botts, Jr. Left to celebrate his life are his immediate family members: his wife of 67 years, Luzon; their children, Rick and Barb Botts of Pleasant Hill and Diane and James Patton of Rockwell City; grandchildren, Michael Patton and Debbie Gray Patton of Oshkosh, WI; Ryan Patton and Julianne Guillard of State College, PA; John W. and Jamie Botts of Des Moines, IA; Jennifer and Frank Riley of Columbus, OH; great-grandchildren Caitlin and Teagan Patton of Oshkosh, WI. He is also survived by his younger sister, Bernice Jones of Newton, IA; brother-in-law Hugh Septer of Ida Grove, IA; sister-in-law Christine Botts of Bloomfield, IA; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Visitation will be at Winfield Funeral Home, Albia, Friday, 5-7:30 pm. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Christian Church, Albia, Saturday, 2:30 pm. Memorials may be made to First Christian Church or Monroe County Conservation - Lake Miami. Online condolences may be made at www.winfieldfh.com.

John A. Botts

January 18, 1918 - September 16, 2009