More about the Grand Master

"Jack L. Butler, Grand Master 2008-2009"

On May 14, 1970, his father Max E. Butler, and Grandfather C.J. Butler, a District Lecturer of renown in that area, raised Brother Butler in Unit Lodge No. 520 at Baxter. Many of the chairs that evening were filled with relatives-great uncles, uncle, and cousins-making this truly a family event. He was born on September 5, 1948 at Marshalltown, and graduated from Baxter High School in 1966. In 1970, Brother Jack graduated from Iowa State University, married Peanut on September 5 in Waterloo. He then began a 30-year career with the Social Security Administration. Upon retirement from the SSA, Jack worked several years as a Financial Planner with Security State Bank in Cascade, and is now a Financial Counselor at Dubuque Bank & Trust in Dubuque.

Brother Jack and Peanut have four children: Damon, Cherise, Mandy, and Darci, all of whom were married between August 5, 2000 and July 14, 2001, while Brother Butler served as Grand Marshal for Grand Master Richard L. Campbell. In several communities, he has been active in YMCA Indian Guides and Indian Princess Programs, Cub and Boy Scouts, Youth Fellowship at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, and in youth and high school soccer. Seven grandchildren have subsequently arrived, and currently live with their parents in North Carolina, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Colorado providing ample incentive and opportunity for cross-country travel.

Since being raised in 1970, Brother Jack has served in various officer positions in several Iowa lodges, but his career advancement with the Social Security Administration continued to move him to another city before attaining the highest Lodge office. Brother Ron Willard met Jack when he came to Dubuque as the Social Security District Manager, and convinced him to accept dual membership in Metropolitan Lodge No. 49. As before, he rose t hrough several offices in the lodge, ultimately serving as Master in 1996.

His service with the Masonic Fraternity is as ardent as in every other endeavor. He is Treasurer of both Metropolitan Lodge and the Dubuque Masonic Temple Association. He has headed all three York Rite Bodies in Dubuque, is a member of the Clinton Scottish Rite, and member of El Kahir Shrine in Cedar Rapids. He has been awarded KYCH, is a member of Red Cross of Constantine, and recently received the DeMolay Legion of Honor. As a member of the Mid-West Conference on Masonic Education, Brother Jack served as President in 2000-2001, and hosted the Annual Meeting of the thirteen Grand Jurisdictions in Cedar Rapids in 2001. He is on the Grand Lodge Speaker's Bureau. He served on the Lodge Service Committee from 1996 to 2007, as Grand Marshal in 2000-01, as Junior Grand Warden in 2004-05, and holds District Lecturer Number 3112. In 2007, Grand Master Mosier appointed him as Chairman of the Committee on Division and Reference.