Andrew Varley

Andrew Preston Varley, 83, of Earlham entered his heavenly home Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, surrounded by family while in hospice at Stuart Community Care Center in Stuart.

He was born Dec. 2, 1934, in Des Moines to James Preston and Esther Ellen (Schutz) Varley – the best crop they raised that year. Andrew attended country school and graduated from Menlo High School in 1952. He graduated from (then) Iowa State College with a degree in agricultural economics in 1957. While there, he met Marilyn Saucke; they married Aug. 23, 1959, at St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran in Farnhamville. Andrew received his master’s degree in economics from North Carolina State-Raleigh in 1961.

In 1962, Andrew and Marilyn returned to Pine View Angus Farm in Adair County, where their four sons, Warren, Tom, John and Curtis, grew up. Andy was first a farmer; a steward of the soil, raising cross-bred Angus cattle and a planter of trees. Andy served on the Iowa Arboretum Board and was a member of American Conifer Society, along with Marilyn. Andy was a Iowa State Representative for 12 years, including Speaker of the House from 1973-74. Governor Robert Ray appointed Andy as chairman of the Commerce Commission (now Iowa Utilities Board), where he served for eight years. From 1988 to 2000, he was senior vice president of energy pricing and regulatory service at American Electric Power in Columbus, Ohio. Among his many recognitions was the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award in 1968 from Iowa State University.

Throughout his life, family, faith and values reflected his belief in Jesus Christ as his Savior. He was a good, kind, patient man, serving others, who earned the respect of everyone who knew him. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren, and loved them all deeply. We shall miss him and his wisdom.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn; sons, Warren (Karen), Tom (Gina), John (Laurie) and Curtis (Catharine); 11 grandchildren, Ben of Ramstein AFB, Germany, Gwen of Chatham, England, Yelena and Millie Varley of Stuart, Dani (Kyle) Orris of Ames, Bethany (Mike) Treffert of Brooklyn, Wisconsin, Morgan Varley (Ryan Mable) of Cedar Rapids, Colin and Nathan Varley of Adrian, Minnesota, and Catarina and Annabella Varley of San Antonio, Texas; sisters, Marge Lucero of Oakdale, California, and Belle (Neil) McPhee of Fenton, Michigan; brother Carl (Evelyn) Varley of Clive and brother-in-law Jose Madrid of Las Vegas, Nevada.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Mary Madrid.

Memorials may be directed to Shining City Foundation, Iowa Arboretum or a charity of your choice. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at Johnson Family Funeral Home, 123 NE Second St., in Stuart. Committal service will be 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, in Jefferson Center Cemetery in rural Menlo. Celebration of life tribute will follow at 11 a.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Urbandale. Online condolences may be left at johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.