Robert L Lautenbach

Bud was born in Pella, IA to Casper and Elizabeth Lautenbach. Throughout his life Bud remained proud of his Dutch heritage. He attended Central College in Pella and later graduated from A.I.B. College of Business. He was an avid Iowa State booster all the way up to the 2024 mens’ basketball Sweet 16 run. He also served in the U.S. Navy. He was Operations Yeoman for the light cruiser the USS Manchester in the Mediterranean Theater and served on the heavy cruiser the USS Toledo on the West Coast of the United States.

Bud was Chief Financial Officer and part owner of Corn States Sheet Metal Fabricators in West Des Moines where he spent 43 years and was involved in many West Des Moines civic initiatives. He served on the boards of WDM Chamber of Commerce, WDM Development Corp (former President), West Des Moines YMCA, and the WDM Planning and Zoning Commission. He also served on the boards of Grandview College, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Sheet Metal Contractors of Iowa, various church organizations, and the American Construction Industry Forum. He also served on the board and various committees of SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association) including a stint as President which afforded Bud and his wife, Jayne, the opportunity to travel extensively and develop lifelong relationships within the sheet metal industry. Bud was honored with admittance into the Sheet Metal College of Fellows where he was very involved in numerous committees and leadership assignments.

Bud and Jayne were married for 38 years. After retiring from Corn States, Bud and Jayne moved to West Palm Beach and Sarasota FL where they enjoyed many great years. After Jayne’s passing in 2019 Bud moved back to Des Moines.

Horses were always in the mix, both in Iowa and Florida. Jayne was a master dressage instructor and Bud was heavily involved with fox hunting. He was a board member of North Hills Hunt Club in Omaha and founded the Moingona Hunt Club in Des Moines where he hosted the kennels and served as Master of the Fox Hounds, which at one time amounted to as many as 45 hounds. Bud was one of 20 authorized life members of Des Moines Golf and Country Club and a 35 year member of The Breakfast Club, a reciprocity club, where he once served as President.

Bud was predeceased in death by his parents and his wife, Jayne Lautenbach, sister Marjorie (Neal) Kuyper of Seattle, sister Katherine (Sage) Van Vliet of Pella, sons James and Russell Lautenbach of Des Moines, step son Tyler and daughter-in-law Darla Perry of Inverness, FL and previous wife Nancy Lautenbach.

Bud is survived by his children Cynthia Fox of Des Moines, Laura (David) Mackaman of Des Moines, and Patricia Lautenbach (Ken Lehmer) of Carlsbad, CA; stepsons Paul (Yvonne) Perry of Carbondale, CO, Michael Perry of Des Moines, daughter-in-law Dannette Lautenbach of Des Moines, 11 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be directed to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, NY, NY 10163)

A private family gathering is planned for a later date.