Gerald Conrad “Butch” Herold Jr.
Gerald Conrad “Butch” Herold Jr.
Gerald Conrad Herold Jr. “Butch”, 75, Palmyra, Mo., passed away Friday, June 26, 2020, at his home in Palmyra.
Butch was born on April 3, 1945, to Gerald Conrad Herold Sr. and Cecilia Suzanne Fisher Herold in Washington, D.C. He was married to Anna Sue Edmunds on April 30, 1966, in Quincy, Ill. She survives.
Other survivors include his children, Nathan Herold, Leila (Monte) Burch and Ryan (Angela) Herold, all of Palmyra; grandchildren, Sierra Burch, Owasso, Okla.; and Zach and Mason Burch, Breyahna, Tegan and Airabella Herold, all of Palmyra; sisters, Linda (Anton) Maltby, Albuquerque, N.M.; Barbara (Nyle) Klingingsmith, Columbia, Mo.; and Deborah (Stanley) Johnston, Marshfield, Wis.; brother-in-law, Marvin J. Edmunds Jr., Palmyra; seven nephews, cousins and extended family.
Butch was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Althie Edmunds; father-in-law, Marvin Edmunds; and granddaughter, Savanah Marie Herold.
Butch loved his family, archery, golf and hunting. He had spent several years being a professional archer traveling to Canada, Mexico, New York, Las Vegas and various other U.S. locations.
His passion was introducing the sport of archery to youth and adults. He always said “anyone can shoot a bow; they just need the correct bow and a good instructor.”
Butch couldn’t stay in his office when customers came in Butch’s Sports World. He always loved to come out and visit with them and give them his personal attention.
Butch started his career with Ayers Oil Co. in Quincy, Ill.; as a bookkeeper and then transferred to Mt. Sterling, Ill. as a plant manager. After that he moved to Ft. Madison, Iowa, as a dispatcher for the Ruan Transport Trucking Co. He then moved to Missouri to manage Ruan Transport out of West Quincy, Mo., and then Quincy, Ill. He later took a position as manager of Arizona Truck Lines out of Gallup, N.M.
In 1980 he and his family moved to Redlands, Calif., for Butch to be executive secretary for the National Field Archery Association which was close to bankruptcy. During the eight years he was there, he traveled across the country, overseeing numerous archery events, brought back their magazine and built them a new building and computerized their office.
In the fall of 1988, he and his family moved back to Palmyra to be closer to family and to open an archery shop. The shop was to be located in part of an old barn, but people couldn’t wait and started knocking on the back door of the house. The store moved to 224 S. Main in Palmyra and was known as “Butch’s Archery.”
A few years later he sold the business and went to work managing Outdoor Sports World in Quincy.
In 1996, he purchased his former business back and built a new building in the Palmyra Industrial Park, opening Butch’s Sports World in 1997.
Butch was a life-long member of the National Field Archery Association and a member of Missouri Bowhunters, serving as president for two years. He was a member of Duck’s Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Whitetails Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.
He was a member of Archery Retailers Association and had been on their board of directors.
Butch was a long time member of Archery Trade Association, where he served as a member of the Archery Dealers Council for many years.
He loved to talk about all the kids he worked with in archery. He was so proud of all his state and national archery champions.
Butch always wanted to bring a national archery event to this area and was so proud to have brought the Rinehardt R-100 Archery Tournament to Palmyra in 2019. The R-100 will be in Palmyra again this year at Flower City Park.
He especially cherished his time on the golf course, playing golf with his dear friends, Larry Voepel and Dr. Angelo LLana, and spending time with his grandchildren, watching them play and participate in various activities or just spending time together with them.
The last two years, Butch taught an archery class for Hannibal-LaGrange University. In the past, he helped promote national archery in the schools NASP program. He recently had been the Missouri state coordinator for S3DA Archery Program.
For relaxing, Butch liked to watch old cowboy shows, read Western books and listen to old 50s and 60s music on his record player.
He attended Warren Christian Church in Warren, Mo.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Thursday. July 2, at Lewis Brothers Funeral Chapel in Palmyra. Pastor David Wilson will officiate.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday. July 1, at Lewis Brothers Funeral Chapel.
Online condolences may be made and video tribute may be viewed at www.lewisbrothersfuneralchapel.com.
