Harold L. "Butch" Kerr Jr., age 71, of Washington, Iowa, died Sunday, December 4, 2011 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a short illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 8, 2011 at the Jones Eden Funeral Home in Washington with services conducted by Pastor Mike Putney. Visitation will begin noon Wednesday at the Jones Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Interment with Military Honors conducted by Washington American Legion Post 29 will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa. There will be a memorial service at the Day Lounge at Halcyon House 3:30 p.m. Thursday, December 8th. Memorials have been established for American Cancer Society or the Halcyon House Good Samaritan Fund. Online condolences may be sent for Butch's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Butch was born July 2, 1940 in Washington, Iowa the son of Harold L. and Mary (Romine) Kerr. He attended school in Washington, Iowa graduating from Washington High School in 1958. He graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in 1962. Butch married Rebecca Sue Canfield in 1962. He was later united in marriage to Joan Anderson on May 17, 1986. Butch and Joan were high school sweethearts but later went their separate ways. They found each other again and were married at Joan's church in Martinsville, Illinois.

Butch lived most of his life in Norfolk, Virginia before returning to Washington, Iowa. He served in the United States Navy where he retired as a Naval Commander. Butch worked as a Golf Professional for many years and was also the General Manager of the Jonathon Corporation.

While in Norfolk he was an active member of the Central Baptist Church serving as a Sunday School Teacher and ran the Soup Kitchen. Butch grew up in the Washington United Methodist Church and had recently been attending the Methodist Church. He enjoyed golf, playing cards, and fishing. He was an avid sports fan and especially enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and Washington Redskins. Butch had a lifelong fascination with the epic, "The Mutiny on the HMS Bounty."

He is survived by his wife Joan Elaine Kerr of Washington, Iowa; son Christopher Kerr of Norfolk, Virginia; son Robin Kerr of Grants Pass, Oregon; step son Mike Putney and wife Amy of Windsor, New York; step daughter Cindy Coale and husband Jeff of Owasso, Oklahoma; six grandchildren: Ashley Bell, Eric Coale, Harmony Kerr, River Kerr, Joy Putney and Faith Putney. He is also survived by his brother Tom Kerr and wife Paula of Fernley, Nevada; sister Julia Bachtell and husband David of Burlington, Iowa; sister-in-law Sherry Norman of Washington, Iowa; brother-in-law Larry Anderson and wife Lois of Keota, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents and one son Kevin Kerr of Norfolk, Virginia.