Caroleen "Cookie" Butcher

Caroleen “Cookie” Butcher, 82, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Sunday, December 15, 2024, at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. 

Caroleen Kay was born on November 7, 1942, in Atlantic, Iowa, the daughter of William “Willie” and Viola (Anderson) Turk. She grew up in “Buck Town”, survived the flood of 1957, and attended Grant and Jackson schools before graduating from Atlantic High School in the Class of 1961. When she was a freshman, she started dating, James “Jim” Edward Butcher and they were high school sweethearts until going their separate ways at graduation when he enlisted in the United States Air Force. On a whim and a chance, James sent “his sweetie – his girl” a letter to see how she was doing and the communication continued and later included a proposal. Caroleen went to the Amarillo Air Force Base in Texas with the intention to get married but without proper parent approval they couldn’t and the couple returned to Atlantic and were married on March 15, 1962. Following their marriage, they returned to Texas and later other locations the military sent them including Minot, North Dakota, before returning to Marne, Iowa, in 1968, and a short time later, Atlantic. Along the way they were blessed with five children, Ted, James, Tammy, Kathy and Steve. 

Her working days started after graduation as a telephone operator at Bell Telephone and while Jim was overseas in the service, she worked in laundry at the Old Whitney Hotel. When the family returned to Atlantic, in addition to being a full-time referee for the kids she worked at Publisher News, Husker News, owned her own house cleaning business, worked as a Jailer at the Cass County Sheriff’s office and finally retired from DeLong’s. 

Caroleen had an artistic gift, whether it be painting the ceramics that Jim poured or the many sewing pieces she crafted; which all seemed to carry a holiday theme, especially Santa Claus. Her children and grandchildren received many of her creations as gifts at birthdays and holidays, and they will forever bring a smile to them, in her memory. Caroleen’s mom’s recipe of chicken and noodles and various desserts, including her cheesecakes, will be missed at holiday gatherings which she looked forward to. She loved her many soap operas and the only NASCAR driver that existed in her world was #3 Dale Earnhardt. 

Caroleen will be remembered by her family as a dynamite (Jim’s word) wife, mother and grandma that gave lots of love, but she didn’t shy away from giving you the look and/or the finger point that usually indicated you were about to get it! She is survived by her husband of 62 years, James “Jim” Butcher; children, Ted Butcher, James “Jim” (Ronda) Butcher, Tammy Butcher, Kathy (Brian) Bates and Steve (Angie) Butcher; grandchildren, Blake (Erin Olsen) Butcher, Steven Butcher, Andrew (Cherry Toney) Butcher, Chris (Jesi) Bates, Aaron Butcher, Justin (Julie) Butcher, Shawn (Jenny) Clark, Christy (Justin) Winston, Tracy Clark, Allison Bates and Tyler (Elizabeth) Allsup; great-grandchildren, Jackson Winston, Carsen Winston, Lola Winston, Payton Butcher, Jaylon Kay Butcher, Evan Butcher, Isaac Orton, Chayse Bates, Bristol Bates, Evelyn Clark, Bridget Allsup, Natalie Allsup, and Hunter Allsup; sisters-in-law, Sandy Turk and Yvonne Harrelson; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Viola Turk; brothers, Kenneth (Betty) Turk and Owen Turk; father-in-law, Melvin Butcher; and sisters-in-law, Melva (Kenneth) Baker and Laura (John Jr. “Jack”) Ihnken.

Open visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 18th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. 

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, December 19th at the Atlantic Cemetery. Following the graveside the family invites you to join them for lunch and fellowship at Roland Funeral Home.

Memorials may be directed to the family for designation at a later date. 

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Caroleen’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.