Article Photos

F. V. "Butch" Udermann, 80, passed away peacefully Sunday, November 22, 2009 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice House in Fort Dodge.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 25th in the Chapel of Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home and a Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 a.m. Corpus Christi Church with Rev. Sunny Dominic officiating. Burial will be in Corpus Christi Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home, where there will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 6:30 p.m. and a vigil at 7 p.m.

Butch is survived by Lois, his wife of 58 years and children Diane (Kent) McClurg, Plano, TX; Steven (Jacquie) Udermann, Cedar Rapids, IA; Cindy Fellers-Gonzales, Fort Dodge, IA; and Chris (Susan) Udermann, Lakeland, FL. 8 grandchildren including Erin (McClurg) Webster, Kelly (Udermann) Chapman, Katie (Udermann) Walter, Ryan McClurg, Matthew Udermann, Adam Fellers, Taylor Fellers, and Alexa Jo Udermann. He is also survived by 8 great grandchildren including Olivia, Madeleine, and Ian Chapman; Claire and Nicholas Walter; Nolan and Evan Fellers; and Cole Webster; brothers Valentine "Mac" (Lenore) and Floyd (Babe); sister Joan Rhode, sister-in-law Myrtle Vierkant; brothers-in-law Ronald Vierkant; Erwin (Ruth) Vierkant; Harold (Carol) Vierkant; Larry Wolter; and several nieces and nephews.

Butch was preceded in death by infant son Erich; parents Valentine and Clara Udermann; stepmother Clothilda Udermann; brother Charles, infant sister Catherine, sister Kathleen; sisters-in-law Anne Udermann and Evelyn Vierkant; and brothers-in-law Roger Rhode and Arthur Vierkant.

Butch was born August 21, 1929 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Valentine J. and Clara (Woods) Udermann. He grew up on the family farm near Mayhew Lake, Minnesota and attended school in that area. He was later a student at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.

Butch married Lois Vierkant on August 2, 1951 in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota. He had a long career in railroading beginning with the Northern Pacific, followed by the MST&L, and finally the Chicago Northwestern from which he retired in 1991. Butch and Lois lived in several places including Fargo, North Dakota; Monmouth, Illinois; Albert Lea, Minnesota; Badger, Iowa and for the past 41 years Fort Dodge Iowa. In retirement Butch and Lois spent their winters at Mid Florida Lakes in Leesburg, Florida.

Butch enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, playing cards, and baseball. As a young man he was a skilled pitcher for the Mayhew Lake Mud Hens. In adulthood he supported his children in softball and baseball, and coached both. He was a life long fan of the Minnesota Twins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the discretion of the family.