Adrian 'Abie' Bix

ADRIAN "ABIE" BOX

Salem

Adrian "Abie" Box, 84, of Salem, Iowa, passed away on Aug. 17, 2021. He was born in Salem, Iowa, on July 20, 1937, to Lawrence and Agnes Holtkamp Box. He attended Saint John's Catholic School in Houghton and carpentry school in Ames. He married Carol Ann Peterman on Nov. 7, 1959, at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, in Mount Pleasant.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Box; siblings, Dorothy Holtkamp, Marcella Holtkamp, Ed Box, Eileen (Dave) Pranger and Norbert (Karen) Box; children, Judy (Layne) Barnes, Jan (Mike) Steffensmeier and Jodi (Lamont) Sutter; grandchildren, Jesse (Mary Beth) Barnes, Janel (Scott) Fedler, Andrew (Kaitlyn) Steffensmeier, Zach Steffensmeier, Nate Steffensmeier, Lizzy Steffensmeier, Avery Sutter and Aiden Sutter; great-grandchildren, Owen Steffensmeier, Sofia Steffensmeier and Layla Barnes; many nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister-in-law, Sally Box; and brothers-in-law, Dennis Holtkamp and Adrian Holtkamp.

He employed his hard work and dedication in various roles as a carpenter, brick mason, and lifelong farmer. In later years he was employed at Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility where he was a maintenance supervisor. He owned and operated Hoschek and Box Masonry. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and Iowa National Guard. He enjoyed being outside, working cattle, wintering in Texas where he particularly liked teaching woodworking, playing euchre with his grandkids, talking on the phone with friends and family, watching the St. Louis Cardinals, and woodworking where he made many bowls, cutting boards, rolling pins, and other beautiful creations for those he loved. He will be remembered for his tenacious work ethic, faith, stubbornness, and card playing. He never knew a stranger, just friends he hadn't met.

The funeral mass of Christian burial will be held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 22, 2021, at St. John's Catholic Church in Houghton, Iowa. Father Dan Dorau will officiate. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Elliott Chapel, in New London, Iowa, where the family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. with a Vigil Service immediately following. Interment will be held at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Houghton, Iowa. Memorial donations may be made to the St. John's Catholic Church and the Alzheimer's Association. Online condolences may be left at www.elliottfuneralchapel.com.