Michael John Booth, 58
Michael John Booth, age 58 of Hampton, passed away Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, at his home, surrounded by family, after a year-long battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD).
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a private family memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, and the service was aired on Zoom.
Michael was born July 28, 1962 in Fairfield, to Frank and Patsy (Hummel) Booth.
He was a 1981 graduate of Fairfield High School, and completed the two-year Winter Farm Operations course at Iowa State University.
He met Kimberly Richardson August 23, 1981 (her birthday), and they later married on Dec. 30, 1983, in Fairfield. Following marriage, the couple farmed with his family until 2002, then moved their family and farming operation to New Hampton.
They sold the farm in 2010 and moved to Hampton where they started North Country Grain Systems. Michael was active in Farm Bureau, holding a variety of positions, including president in both Jefferson and Chickasaw counties. He also served as a township trustee in Jefferson County.
Church played an integral part in Mike’s life, first as a member of First United Methodist Church in Fairfield, and later as a member of New Hampton United Methodist Church. He was instrumental in starting the Men’s Group at Hampton United Methodist Church and was usually one of the last to leave the Saturday morning breakfasts when there was a job to be done around the church. Last year, Michael started lay ministry training and attended the Walk to Emmaus.
Mike never met a stranger and was blessed with the “gift of gab.”
He loved spending time with his family, and enjoyed cooking and entertaining for family and friends.
He also had a great passion for farming, the outdoors, spending many hours gardening, camping, hiking, snowshoeing and tending to his timber home.
He aspired to earn his pilot’s license having grown up with multiple pilots in the family and watching airplanes come and go from the airport near his childhood home.
Traveling with his wife and daughters to Florida, Puerto Rico, Colorado, Hawaii, Texas, Boston, Wisconsin and Minnesota made for some great memories.
He will be remembered for his generous heart, infectious laugh, great weekend breakfasts and voice imitations when reading to or playing with his granddaughters.
Those left to honor his memory are his wife, Kimberly of Hampton; daughters, Marah Booth of New Hampton and Taylor Ward of Marshalltown; granddaughters, Kaelyn Deetz, Ellie Koska, and Emaela and Olive Ward; and mother, Patsy Booth of Hampton.
Michael was preceded in death by his father, Frank; sister, Michelle Donald; niece, Lynnsey Donald; and his grandparents, John Carl and Mabel (Hicks) Booth and Lenox and Mary Lou (Baker) Hummel.
Memorials may be made to Hampton United Methodist Church or the CJD Foundation for research for a cure.
The Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home of Hampton is assisting Michael’s family.
