Who died in Dr. Pol family? How Veterinarian Deals with Loss and New Life?

Dr. Jan Harm Pol is a veteran in the reality TV scene. He stars as the charismatic and compassionate veterinarian in “The Incredible Dr. Pol”, a show that has been running for more than 10 years. He has a loyal fan base, a thriving practice, and a remarkable reputation. He seems to have it all, but behind the scenes, he has endured heartbreaking losses.

He lost his grandson Adam James Butch, who was only 23 years old, in 2019. He also lost his son-in-law, Gregory Butch, who was married to his adopted daughter Kathy, in 2016. The tragedies in the Pol family did not stop there. Dr. Pol also had to cope with the deaths of his brother, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law. And before all that, his daughter Diane Pol Jr., whom he adopted with his first wife, had to face the death of her biological mother to cancer when she was still a child.

Dr Jan Pol

How did Dr. Pol cope with such devastating losses? How did he manage to keep his spirits up and continue to care for the animals and the people who depend on him? And how did he honor the memories of his loved ones who passed away?

Death of Dinae Pol Jr. Biological Mother

Diane Pol Jr. is a woman who knows the pain of losing a mother. Diane Jr. was born on March 27, 1973, and she was only 9 years old when her biological mother, Joann, died of cancer in 1982. Joann was a friend of Diane Pol, a famous veterinarian and TV personality. They shared a love for animals and a strong bond of friendship. Before Joann passed away, she made a special request to Diane Pol. She asked her to adopt her daughter and raise her as her own. Diane Pol agreed without hesitation and welcomed Diane Jr. into her home.

Diane Jr. had to face the harsh reality of losing her mother at a young age. She was heartbroken and confused. She had to leave behind her old life and start a new one with a new family. She was adopted by Diane Pol and her husband Jan Pol, who also had two other children, Charles and Kathy. Diane Jr. moved to Michigan, where she was surrounded by animals and nature. She learned to cope with her grief and adjust to her new life with the help of her adoptive family. She went to Chippewa Hills High School and following graduation, she attended Central Michigan University.

Diane Pol Jr. biological Moth Joann and her younger sibling

Diane Jr. never forgot her biological mother, Joann, and honored her memory. She also grew to love her adoptive mother, Diane Pol, as her true mom, who loved her unconditionally and supported her throughout her life. On Mother’s Day, Diane Jr. posted a heartfelt message on Facebook, expressing her appreciation for both of her mothers. She wrote:

“On Mother’s Day I am yet again reminded how blessed I am to have had two mothers. One who gave birth to me, raised me for nine years and loved me enough to ask her best friend to take care of me after she died. The other took me in and chose to love me, a broken child with many, many issues. Mom Diane loved me as her own from the day I moved in, no questions asked. SHE is the one I refer to as my Mom, because she is … No questions asked. The greatest compliment I received lately was when someone told me how much I look like her. I love you mom! I thank JoAnn for bringing me into the world, but I thank you for being my Mom and for loving me.”

Adam James Butch:

Adam, a product of Michigan State University, had a promising future ahead of him as a certified pharmacy technician. He also shared a strong bond with his grandfather, Dr. Jan Pol, the star of the Nat Geo Wild show “The Incredible Dr. Pol”. Sadly, Adam died at the young age of 23 on September 18, 2019, after struggling with depression for many years. His family, who was not ready to accept the truth, asked for privacy and received many tributes from Adam’s friends and relatives. His obituary described him as an easygoing person who was loved by everyone he met. It also mentioned his hobbies: “Adam was a kind hearted young man who made friends easily and was loved by everyone he met. His hobbies included making music, playing his guitar, spending time with friends and being outside.”

Dr. Pol Grandson Adam James Butch
Dr. Pol’s Grandson Adam James Butch

A look back at Adam’s Life:

Adam James Butch was the firstborn child of Gregory and Kathy Butch, a proud grandson of the famous veterinarian Dr. Pol. He was born on August 20, 1996, in Saginaw, Michigan, where he spent his childhood with his younger sister Rachel. Both siblings had a taste of the spotlight, appearing on their grandfather’s popular TV show “The Incredible Dr. Pol”. Adam made his debut in 2017, in an episode called “Show Me the Bunny”, while Rachel followed suit in two more episodes until 2019.

Adam was a bright and active student, who attended MacGregor Elementary, St. Stanislaus Elementary, and Holy Family Middle School. He then graduated from All Saints High School in 2014, where he played varsity football and joined the National Honor Society. He continued his education at Michigan State University, where he also earned a certificate as a pharmacy technician. He put his skills to use at Rite Aid, where he worked as a valued employee. Adam had a girlfriend named Julia Shepherd, but not much is known about her.

Adam James Butch Wiki Facts:

Birth NameAdam James Butch
BirthdateAugust 20, 1996
Birth PlaceSaginaw, Michigan, United States
Age23
Death DateSeptember 18, 2019
EthnicityWhite
ZodiacLeo
ParentsGregory Butch, Kathlene Butch
Girlfriend Julia Shepherd
Marital StatusUnmarried
Net worthN/A
Social MediaFacebook

Gregory Butch:

Gregory Butch fought bravely against cancer for four long years, but finally succumbed to the disease on February 20, 2016, at the age of 50. He left behind his wife of two decades, Kathlene Pol, the daughter of Dr. Pol, and his two children, Adam and Rachel Butch. Gregory and his family lived in Bay City, Michigan, where he worked as a skilled Chemical technologist at Dow Corning for 22 years. He was a devoted husband and father, who always put his family above everything else. He was a gentle and generous man, who made a positive impact on many people. His obituary page was filled with tributes from those who knew him as a “kind soul.

Dr. Pol Daughter Kathy Pol, grand kids, son in law
Butch Family-Gregory, Rachel, Kathlene Pol, Adam Butch (L-R)

What happened to Adam James Butch’s mother-Kathlene?

The family’s grief and sorrow are beyond words. In times of loss, heartfelt condolences can offer some solace to the ones who mourn. Kathlene faced a series of ordeals in a few years. She lost her husband and then her young son. But she did not give up on life. She showed her strength and resilience. She still lives in Bay City, Michigan. After a long period of loneliness, she found love again. She is now in a relationship with Thomas Rakowski.

Other Deaths in the Pol Family

Dr. Pol was born in the Netherlands, where he grew up on a dairy farm with his large and loving family. He has two brothers named Jan, and a third brother named Harm. Harm also became a dairy farmer like their father, but sadly passed away more than a decade ago. Dr. Pol’s sister, Hennie, married a kind and gentle man named Jan Bergveld, who was very close to Dr. Pol. Unfortunately, both Hennie and Dr. Pol’s other brother Jan lost their spouses, Bontje and Jan, who were dear friends and devoted parents. Despite these tragedies, Dr. Pol is grateful for his family and the memories he has with them.

Jan Pol, Bontje Pol, Hennie Pol Bergveld, Diane Pol, Dr.Pol (L-R)

How Dr. Pol Coped With His Losses and Continued to Care for Animals and People

Despite these losses, Dr. Pol has managed to cope with his grief and continue his work with passion and dedication.

One of the ways that Dr. Pol coped with his losses was by focusing on the positive aspects of his life, such as his family, his animals, and his fans. He expressed his gratitude for the support and love he received from his wife, children, grandchildren, staff, and viewers. He also welcomed new life into his family. His son Charles and his wife Beth had a baby girl, Abigail, a month after Adam’s passing. Dr. Pol expressed his joy and gratitude on Twitter, saying,

“God has blessed us with a beautiful little daughter, Abigail. We are thrilled she’s finally arrived, and we are grateful for everyone’s love and support!”

Another way that Dr. Pol coped with his losses was by finding meaning and purpose in his work. He said, “I love the variety. This is one thing that I really like about this business, because we never know what comes through the door that day. This is what keeps me going. I am always so curious.” He also shared his philosophy of caring for animals and people, and how animals can teach humans valuable lessons. He said, “My philosophy is that I want kids to grow up with animals. When kids grow up with animals, they make better adults. … This is what people don’t realize, how much animals can teach humans.”

Dr. Pol also coped with his losses by honoring the memories of his loved ones who passed away.

Dr. Pol is an inspiring example of someone who has overcome adversity and grief with resilience and optimism. He has shown that even in the darkest times, there is always hope and joy to be found in life. He has also shown that by helping others, we can help ourselves heal and grow. 

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