Julian Boudonck, 96, of Victor, IA, died on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at Brooklyn Community Estates.

A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 AM, Saturday, May 24, 2025 at St. Bridget Catholic Church, Victor, IA with burial to follow at Victor Calvary Cemetery. A rosary will be held at 9:00 AM, Saturday, May 24 also at the Church with a visitation to follow beginning at 9:30 AM. A luncheon will follow the burial in the reception hall of the Church.

Julian Raymond Boudonck was born on March 26, 1929, on a farm near Victor, Iowa, to Charles L. and Romanie M. (Hudders) Boudonck. He grew up in Victor and attended local schools. Julian proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953.

After his military service, Julian returned to Victor and pursued a career as a butcher. He was a partner at Community Lockers in Victor from 1955 until his retirement in 1991.

With a perpetually mischievous grin and twinkle in his eyes, Julian Boudonck radiated the gentlemanly sincerity and goodness of a bygone era. A man of simple needs and wants, he lived his life humbly and true to his frugal Belgian upbringing - still sleeping on the same used twin mattress he inherited from his brother Fritz 40 years ago. Simple pleasures delighted him…sweet treats (anytime of the day), grocery store bargains (to hell with the expiration date), seeing the joy of family and friends when baking and delivering cinnamon rolls to them every week, and spending countless hours with Robert sharing meals, watching college basketball and his beloved Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs, and just "shooting the shit."

A small town Renaissance man, Julian had honed a wide array of talents including, but not limited to, learning to be an expert butcher and locker owner because he had no interest in farming, perfecting a much envied secret deviled egg recipe, dumpster diving into his mid-90s without breaking a bone, being a legendary recycled can collector, mastering the fine art of obscenity placement - "god damn/damnit" being his favorite - at inopportune times such as in church and in front of young family members, complaining about everyone's cooking but his own while using the aforementioned obscenity, playing golf while also using the aforementioned obscenity, performing a handful of classic songs on his accordion to the delight of family members during get-togethers, finding "treasures" at the Victor recycling center, dancing with the finesse and charm of Gene Kelly, re-learning to play Bridge at 92 and regularly winning games, maintaining a detailed ledger of his Bingo wins/losses, and a penchant for investing, which he credited to Russ Fetzer.

The lengths of his generosity knew no limits as he would literally give the shirt off his back - or in the case of one lucky family member, a pair of dapper woven dress shoes from the 1950s still worn today. A collector of empty cans for decades, he gave all the recycle proceeds from his daily expeditions to his great nieces and nephews, which amounted to a small fortune over the years. For nearly 30 years until Covid prohibited it, he spent all day every Friday volunteering at the Iowa City Veteran's Hospital and also was known by staff for bringing a pan of his homemade desserts like apple crisp to share each week. Never one to shy away from hard work, the Knights of Columbus and Victor Legion could always count on Julian to volunteer in any capacity needed and donate dozens of his famous deviled eggs. As a congregate meal deliverer, many Victor residents counted on him for their meals and a kind greeting, funny quip, and sometimes the only smiling face they would see. Julian was also a board member of Victor Senior Housing and the Victor Cooperative Telephone Company. He served as former Grand Knight of the Victor Knights of Columbus, Iowa State Knight of the Month and a 70+ years active member of the Victor American Legion.

Julian's family and faith were his foundation, sustaining him through life's challenges and the loss of his parents and all of his siblings. He had a devotion to the Rosary, which provided him with solace even as recently as his time in the hospital when he asked Robert to pray it with him. When expressing his gratitude for family, Julian was known to become emotional and his tears flowed readily due to his intense feelings for those he loved. He was a lifelong and committed Catholic Democrat who believed in the utmost importance of putting the lives of others before self.

People like Julian are a rarity today. He was naturally inclined to "go with the flow" and would put his hands together then open them up and say "whatever". He was polite to friends and strangers, not one to seek attention or ruffle feathers, and quick to express his gratitude - never missing a chance to say "thank you". While spending the past 6 weeks in the hospital and subsequently the nursing home, he encountered countless care staff, all of whom commented on his politeness and kind nature. He repeatedly stated he was "spoiled" by all of the attention from family members present 24/7, nursing staff, and many visitors during his stay. It was as if he did not think he deserved the attention, but everyone who knew him knew better as there was no one more deserving. Julian Boudonck was a lovely and kind human. If you had the good fortune to know Julian, consider yourselves blessed.

Julian is survived by his adopted children (niece and nephew) Janice Bringmann, and Robert De Meyer; grandchildren, Alicia, Joe, Annette, Dave, Dan, Diane, Beth, Rob, and Chris; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Romanie Hudders Boudonck; his siblings, Julein Boudonck, Flavia De Meyer, Fritz Boudonck, Marshall (Lathell) Boudonck, Alice (Ferdinand) Cleppe, and Margaret (Raymond) Wauters, his adopted daughter (niece), Alice (Joe) VanQuekelburghe; and son-in-law and daughter-in-law Leroy Bringmann, and Diana De Meyer.

Rest well, sweet and gentle man.

Julians family extends a grateful appreciation to all who supported and cared for Julian. With special thanks to the staff at Compass Memorial Healthcare and Hospital, including those who took the time to make him smile, Dr. Chirantan Ghosh, the team at Brooklyn Community Estate, and Essence of Life Hospice.

If desired, memorial contributions may be designated Victor Knights of Columbus or Victor American Legion and mailed in care of Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 485, Victor, IA 52347.