LOREN IVAN “BUTCH” SOBOTKA
LOREN IVAN ‘BUTCH’ SOBOTKA
Loren Ivan ‘Butch’ Sobotka was born October 2, 1938 to Edward and Frances Caberet Sobotka. Butch attended local schools and graduated from Diagonal high school with the class of 1957.
After graduation he began farming with his father and brother, David. On June 14, 1959 Butch married Sharon Kay Brown. They had three children, Nikki Lynn, Edward Dean and Timothy Clay.
The family farm, where he was raised from birth, was home for the next 74 years. Butch enjoyed working with his cattle and raising row crop with Sharon for over 50 years. Along with farming, Butch enjoyed following his grandchildren’s sporting events, meeting the guys for coffee each morning, and gathering with neighbors for monthly card parties. Butch was a lifetime member of the Diagonal Lions Club.
Butch passed away on June 5, 2013 at the age of 74 years, eightmonths and three days.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Frances Sobotka; brothers, Don, Leonard and David, and sister, Norma Jean Lumbard.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon Sobotka of Diagonal, Iowa; children, Nikki, Ed (friend Barb) and Tim (wife Debbi); grandchildren, Wes, Eric (Caitlin), Jeff and Chad Starlin, Amy Sobotka, Jeremy Sobotka (fianc?? Christina England), Lauren Sobotka-Binns (Isaac), Kristen Houskeeper (Kevin) and Tyler Sobotka (Ashley); great-grandchildren, Camila and Parker Starlin, Aydan and Landyn Brokaw and Antaeus Sobotka; sisters-in-law, Lois Ann Sobotka, Venita Schmidt, Mara Lou (Oren) Jeter and Sheryl Brown; brothers-in-law, Roy (Nancy) Lumbard and Harlan (Lila) Brown, and a multitude of other family, friends, and neighbors.
Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Diagonal was in charge of the arrangements.
Services were conducted at the United Church of Diagonal on Sunday, June 9, 2013, with Pastor Ed Shields officiating. Organist was Judy Newton.
Casket bearers included Amy Sobotka, Wesley Starlin, Jeremy Sobotka, Eric Starlin, Kristen Houskeeper, Lauren Binns, Jeffrey Starlin, Tyler Sobotka and Chad Starlin.
Honorary pallbearers included Jerry Sobotka and Brent Sobotka.
Burial was in the Bohemian Cemetery in Diagonal.
Memorials are to Dollars for Scholars and Diagonal Church Building Fund.
