IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Madeline R.

Madeline R. Butler Profile Photo

Butler

March 7, 1910 – August 14, 2015

Obituary

Madeline Rose Butler, 105, passed away peacefully on Friday morning, August 14, 2015, at Christian Care Retirement Community. Madeline was born on March 7, 1910, as one of four children born to Dutch immigrants, Clement and Marie (Buysee) Van Heesbeke. She was raised on a peppermint farm near South Bend where she was instilled with the values of hard work, hospitality and keeping a clean, comfortable home. On July 4, 1933, Madeline married Cecil D. Butler, in South Bend, IN; he preceded her in death on May 16, 1971. Madeline worked as a secretary to the president of Studebaker Automobile Company after completing International Business College until her marriage to Cecil Butler in 1933. A Bluffton resident since 1949, Madeline was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a homemaker and long time co-owner of Bluffton's Western Auto and later True Value Hardware store where she managed merchandise and displays until she retired at the age of 93. Madeline was a faithful member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and enjoyed crafting hand-made rosaries, baking and needlework. Whether she was making a rosary for a friend, knitting a baby blanket, mending a child's Teddy bear, or delivering loaves of homemade Dutch raisin bread, Madeline's true occupation was putting her talents to use for the good of others. Her hard working personality was trumped only by her generous spirit. Madeline parented or grand-parented successful business owners, engineers, military personnel, sales people, physicians, nurses, artists, pilots, educators, writers, social workers, and homemakers. Madeline's family extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Christian Care Retirement Community and Family LifeCare for their expert care in Madeline's final years. Survivors include a daughter, Mary (Gerald) Fisher of Bluffton; three sons, David (Zella) Butler of Bluffton, Tom (Maureen) Butler of Bluffton, and John (Claire) Butler of Minneapolis, MN; 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Aside from her parents and husband, Madeline was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister. Visitation will be Monday, August 17, 2015, from 4:00 until 7:00 PM, at Goodwin - Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel in Bluffton, with a rosary service being held immediately following visitation at 7:00 PM, at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, August 18, at 11:00 AM, at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, with one hour of visitation prior to the service at the church. Fr. Pius N. Ilechukwu will officiate. Burial will be at Elm Grove Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities, Christian Care Retirement Community, or Family LifeCare of Berne, IN.
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Services

Visitation

Calendar
August
17

Goodwin-Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel

3220 East State Road 124, Bluffton, IN 46714

4:00 am - 7:00 pm

Visitation

Calendar
August
18

10:00 - 11:00 am

Mass of Christian Burial

Calendar
August
18

Starts at 11:00 am

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