Donald E. "Butch" Martin, Jr.

     Donald “Butch” Martin, 81, a resident of Fairfield, passed away Tuesday, November 11, 2025 in Washington, Iowa at United Presbyterian Home surrounded by his family.

     Visitation for family and friends will be 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, November 16, 2025 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield. Memorial services celebrating his life will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 17th at Behner Funeral Home with Pastor Danny Cary officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Jefferson County Park in care of the family at 1491-240th St. Libertyville, Iowa 52567.

     Butch was born October 3, 1944 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Donald and Janet (Praefke) Martin. Donald, Sr. was a flight engineer on a B24 bomber during WWII and didn’t get to meet his son until he was six months old.

     Butch attended school in Fairfield and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1963.

     Butch started dating Jo Ann Short in high school. They were united in marriage April 18, 1965 and recently celebrated their 60th anniversary.

     Butch retired from Rockwell/Meritor and then worked for the Jefferson County Parks.

     Butch always had a horse or mule around. He had a white mule named Joker that was a constant trail and coon hunting companion for several years. Butch and Joker also brought several ribbons home from mule shows.

     In his leisure time he was a member of the Lockridge Rough Riders Saddle club, was an avid coon, deer, and coyote hunter. Butch was never one to be “sitting in the house”. He loved being outside or just driving the country roads. He shared all of his hobbies with his children. As his grandchildren grew, he attended many school sporting events to cheer them on.

     Butch is survived by his wife Jo Ann; daughter, Kim (Steve) Myers of Packwood; sons, Jeff (Jennifer) Martin of Fairfield and Todd (Lisa) Martin of Libertyville; his nine grandchildren, Kate (Brad) Shelangoski, Colten (Tara) Showman, Makenna and Tessa Myers, Zach, Drew and Maddie Martin, Kylie and Lauren Martin.

     Also surviving are three great-grandchildren, Aiden and Connor Shelangoski, and Preslee Showman.

     He was proceeded in death by his parents, Donald and Janet Martin; sisters, Sandra DeSmit and Mary Waugh; and his in-laws, James and Edith Short.