Bob Butz
12/26/1916 – 2/15/2015
Bob Butz went to heaven after passing away very peacefully at sunrise at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, Michigan. Bob was born to George and Margaret (Worrell) Butz on December 26, 1916 and at 98 years of age was a life-long Mishawaka resident .Bob loved telling stories about the escapades of he and his four brothers as they grew up on Fourth Street. He graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1936 and was active in their alumni association. He met the love of his life, Ruth Williams at Bank Night at the Tivoli theater and they were married on December 30, 1939 in Mishawaka. They recently celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary. When asked the secret of a long and happy marriage, Bob would say “Never go to bed mad, stay up and fight”, communication was the key. He would often sum up his life by saying, “I was raised with four brothers and then I had four girls and boy did my life change!”
Bob worked at CE Lee and making overalls, and at Studebaker but fondly remembered managing the Sheltered Workshop for Disabled Adults in Elkhart and working as a fireman at Bingham and Southside schools. He loved working in his garden of flowers and fruit trees and “puttering around” at his workbench.
In recent years, Bob began to study the genealogy of his family and was so excited with each and every discovery. He was made an honorary member of the Beacon Falls Fire Department where his father had been chief in 1897.
Bob is survived by his wife Ruth, and his four daughters, Barbara Davis of St. Joseph, MI, Kay (Larry)Green of Mishawaka, Jill (Barry) Robertson of St. Joseph, MI, and Susan (Jack) Sukup of Granger. Bob also leaves grandchildren, John Davis, Jesse(Paula)Davis, Tom (Mindy)Davis, Angela(Ray) Olson, Michelle(Eric)Ellenberger, Larry (Tina)Green, Ryan(Kathy)Green, Kristin Sizer, Jodie (Paul) Zeuke, Jennifer (Mike) Morris, Amy (Ray)Woodruff, Andrea(Bryan)Rundio, Erin(Brad)Hafner, John Sukup and many great and great, great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his brothers George, Ray, Howard, Lloyd, and Lester, his “second mother”, his mother in law, Hazel Williams, and three grandsons.
A visitation will be held at Bubb’s Funeral Home in Mishawaka on Wednesday, February 18th from 2:00-4:00pm, and 6:00-8:00pm. Services will be held on Thursday, February 19th at 10:00am at East United Methodist Church with viewing one hour before the service.
Memorial Contributions may be made to: East United Methodist Church, 1621 E. 3rd St. Mishawaka or Beacon Falls Fire Department, 35 N. Main St., Beacon Falls, CT. 06403
Grandpa was a very wise man, he enjoyed life to its fullest with the love of his life Ruth ( Grandma ). There was never a dull conversation at grandpas. Either sports, news, politics, or life lessons. Seems he never let anything get him down, which could be felt by the warm welcoming smile always on his face. He will be greatly missed by anyone who knew him. I am sure he is already with friends, family, and most of all the Lord. He will be looking down and smiling on all of us until we meet again. R.I.P Grandpa.
Rest in peace dear man and may God bless your family.
My heart goes out to the Butz family at the loss of Bob. What a wonderful gentle man who left behind such an incredible legacy through his daughters! How blessed you all were to have him in your lives! My prayers go out to Susan and the family.