Lynn F. Budde

Lynn Francis Budde, 81, of Preston, Iowa, passed away suddenly on June 8, 2026, in exactly the place he would have chosen; the house he built by hand.

Lynn was born on April 17, 1945, in Bellevue, Iowa, to Eldon and Dula (Zeimet) Budde. He was raised in the Preston area and graduated from Preston High School with the Class of 1963.

In 1964, Lynn answered the call to serve his country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He served on active duty until 1968 and continued in the Marine Corps Reserve until 1970. During his military service, he spent a year deployed in Vietnam. Lynn was deeply proud of his service as a Marine, and the values of discipline, commitment, and perseverance remained with him throughout his life.

On September 25, 1971, he married his best friend, Joan Jochum. Lynn began a long career with the Chicago & North Western Railroad. When the railroad was acquired by Union Pacific, Lynn and Joan were temporarily required to relocate to Missouri for work. Even then, Preston remained home. They maintained their residence there and spent as many weekends as possible back among family and the community they loved.

Lynn believed strongly in two things: the truth and hard work. He was a true jack-of-all-trades whose talents seemed endless. Whether woodworking, plumbing, carpentry, automotive repair, or general maintenance, there was little he could not accomplish. He approached every task with pride and precision, earning a reputation as a perfectionist whose work was always done right. One of his proudest achievements was designing and building his family home, not once, but twice after a devastating fire destroyed the original house.

In his younger years, Lynn enjoyed fishing and golfing and was active in bowling leagues and fast-pitch softball. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles with Joan and could often be found cutting and splitting wood, a pastime he genuinely loved.

Those who knew Lynn knew he could be stubborn and, at times, a little gruff. But those fortunate enough to be part of his life never questioned his loyalty. If you needed help, Lynn would be there. Dependable, hardworking, and steadfast, he was someone family and friends could always count on.

Beneath his tough exterior was a gentle heart. His greatest joy came from spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also had a special love for animals.

Lynn was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Miles American Legion, and the Preston AMVETS. He was proud of his military service, devoted to his family, and dedicated to a life of honest work.

Lynn is survived by his wife, Joan; sons, Daryl (Molly) Budde, of Preston and Thomas (Eileen) Budde, of Preston; daughter, Sue Budde of Preston; grandchildren, Karmon (Jace) House, Coy Boothby, Michael Budde, Aryanna Budde, Will Budde, Adalynn Budde, and Waylon Budde; great-grandchildren, Grayson House and Odin House; step-grandchildren, Wyatt Bierman, Libby Bierman, Abigail Bierman, Hailey (Kevin) Lesniak, Makenzie Petersen, Sadie Petersen and Pravionna Petersen. Also two sisters. Lynn is preceded in death by his parents, Eldon and Dula; brothers, Daryl, Terry, Larry, and Eldon, Jr.; and sister, Dory.

A funeral Mass will be held Thursday, June 11 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Preston, at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will take place at the church, on Wednesday, June 10, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., as well as one hour prior to Thursday’s Mass. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, in Preston.