John H. "Butch" Dranttel

John H. “Butch” Dranttel, age 86, of St. Peter passed away on Friday, February 24, 2023 at River’s Edge Hospital. 

Public visitation will be 1:00-3:00pm Sunday, March 5, 2023 at St. Peter Funeral Home, followed by a private family service. The celebration will continue from 4:30-7:00pm at the Red Men Club, St. Peter. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.  To leave a condolence for the family, visit his obituary at www.saintpeterfuneralhome.com.

Butch was born May 26, 1936 to Marvin and Irene Dranttel, in St. Peter.  He was baptized and confirmed in the St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Butch worked the family farm as he grew up and attended school in St. Peter, where he participated in FFA.  He graduated High School in 1954. 

After graduation he worked several jobs in St. Peter, including Shadow’s Filling Station, Nesvig Equipment Company, Swenson Implement and St. Peter Motor Parts.  During these years, Butch was a member of the Jolly Rodders Car Club. 

On April 18, 1959, he and Carol Adolph, were united in marriage.  They began their life together of, farming, family and business ownership.  They enjoyed 64 years together. 

Crop farming became their way of life as they moved to the family farm in 1966.  Butch also worked many years with Green Giant on the pea pack and hauling sweet corn.  During 1977 a crop irrigation system was installed on their farm to help produce greater crop yields.  The system was the first of its kind in the area. 

Never one to sit idle, Butch and Carol started Dranttel Sales and Service in 1966.  They operated the business from their farm site and sold Scorpion snowmobiles during the winter seasons.  As the business grew, they added Yamaha motorsports and Lawn and Garden equipment.  In 1982, they purchased property on North Highway 169, built a building and moved the business off the family farm. They added fishing boats, outboards and trailers to the line of products sold and serviced. 

Both he and Carol retired from the business in 2008.  After retiring, Butch worked the spring planting and fall harvest seasons with Joe and Kevin Kienlen.  He was able to enjoy farming and experience a new era of technology and equipment. 

Butch served on the Traverse Township Board for 31 years, starting in 1990 and retiring in 2021.  He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed camping, hunting and working in his shop.  With his experience and knowledge he was able to fix or repair just about anything.    

Family, friends, business acquaintances, co-workers were plentiful during his life and he cherished each and every one of those relationships.

Butch is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters: Marie, and Jean (Lee) Gansen; grandson, Nick (Rachael) Gansen; sisters: Joanne Johnson and Nancy (Ron) Fierst, all of St. Peter; Brother-in-law, Gary (MaryAnn) Adolph of Virginia Beach, VA; and numerous nieces and nephews.