Evan Walter Branson

Evan Walter “Butch” Branson, 78, of Weldon died Thursday, July 21, 2016, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

Services were held 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 25, at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola. The Rev. Dr. Al Adams officiated. Burial was in Green Bay Cemetery in Clarke County. Visitation was Sunday, July 24, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to Powell Chemical Dependency Center in Iowa Lutheran Hospital, 700 E. University Ave., Des Moines, IA 50316. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com.

Evan Walter Branson, son of Virginia Toelke (Barr) Branson and Walter Cleveland Branson, was born April 12, 1938, in Evansville, Indiana.

Evan graduated from Central High School in Evansville, Indiana. Soon after high school, he was called to serve his country with the United States Air Force, where he attained the rank of Airman First Class.

On December 28, 1958, Evan married Joyce (Keeler) Branson in Denver, Colorado. The couple had two children, Debra and Evan Jr.

Following his discharge from the service, Evan worked a number of years in the Aerospace Avionics industry as a field service engineer. Evan’s work took him and his family to many cities over an 18-year span. However, they returned to Clarke County in 1976. At that time, Evan owned and operated an on-demand print service in Des Moines. Most recently, he has enjoyed working as a produce farmer for the past several years.

After returning to Iowa, Evan was involved with Powell Chemical Dependency Center where he mentored for many years, Clarke County Arts Council, he attained the designation of Master Gardener, participated with the Crossroads Mental Health Board and was a member of the local poker club in Osceola. He also loved gardening and taking his produce to the farmers market, as well as carving and painting gourds he raised. Evan was also known to be technologically savvy and loved science fiction.

Evan is survived by his wife, Joyce of Weldon; daughter, Debra (Lee) March of Blairsville, Georgia; son, Evan W (Shellee Showalter) Branson Jr. of Rock Island, Illinois; grandchildren, William (Kristin Hall) Branson March of Austin, Texas; Benjamin March of Blairsville, Georgia; Sydney Branson of Rock Island, Illinois; half-brother, David M. (Janet) Barr of Kirkwood, Missouri; half-sister, Susan (Doug) Bland of Kirkwood, Missouri; mother-in-law, Dorothy Keeler of Weldon; sister-in-law, Jean (Lonnie) Liggitt of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; brother-in-law, Warren (Sue) Keeler of Osceola; and many other relatives and friends.

Evan was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, William Barr and stepmother, Marj Branson; sister, Shannon Willoughby; father-in-law, Willard Wayne Keeler; brothers-in-law, Bert Austin Keeler and Lee Houston.