Butikofer, John Jr. 1926-1989

BUTIKOFER, SUTTER, BERGAN, WESSELS, TORKELSON, SCHUPBACH, SCHLEE, LOFTSGARD, STRONG

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 7/28/2011 at 14:20:05

SOURCE: Elgin, Iowa ELGIN ECHO, January 3, 1990
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

Funeral services for John Butikofer, Jr. were held Wednesday, December 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the Elgin Lutheran Church in Elgin, Iowa. Rev. Ernest T. Thompson officiated. Casket bearers were Larry Butikofer, Richard Schupbach, Jeff Schlee, John Schupbach, Bill Torkelson, and Norman Loftsgard. Interment was in the Apostolic Cemetery, rural Elgin, Iowa in Clayton County. Muehlethaler Funeral Home of Elgin, Iowa was in charge of arrangements.

John Butikofer, Jr., son of John, Sr. and Louisa (Sutter) Butikofer, was born July 26, 1926 on a farm in Clayton County, near Elgin, Iowa. He attended country school near his home and graduated from Elgin High School in May 1945. On September 9, 1946 he entered the United States Army and served until receiving his honorable discharge April 22, 1947. His service included duty for 3 months overseas. After military service he returned home to continue farming with his family. On June 27, 1954 he married Donna Bergan at the Marion Lutheran Church in Gunder, Iowa. The couple had 4 children. They operated the family farm where John grew up. As his sons joined the family operation he also began working for Bob Falb Implement in Elgin, Iowa as a mechanic and trucker until his retirement in August of 1988. In his free time John loved to help his sons with their machinery and treasured the time spent with his very special granddaughter. During the last several years he enjoyed going to the Valley Cafe, the "Office" as he called it, to visit with his many friends in the community. John was a faithful member of the Elgin Lutheran Church and the Elgin American Legion, helping with their works whenever possible.

John Butikofer, Jr. died December 24, 1989 at his home following a 6 and a half year fight with cancer. He was 63 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents, a step-father Louis *a last name was not listed*, and 1 sister, Helen Schupbach.

Survivors include his wife, Donna; a daughter Trudy (Dr. Bill) Wessels of Durham, North Carolina; 3 sons, Dave Butikofer, Terry Butikofer, and Rodney Butikofer, all of Elgin, Iowa; a granddaughter, Kelsey Rae; 2 brothers, Lawrence (Carolyn) Butikofer of Elgin, Iowa, Lewis (Ernestine) Butikofer of Lakeland, Florida; 4 sisters, Elsie Torkelson and Mildred(George) Schupbach, all of Elgin, Iowa, Eunice (Jim) Schlee of Postville, Iowa, Eleanor (Orlando) Loftsgard of Norwood, Missouri; a half-sister, Oma Lee (Lowell) Strong of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a brother-in-law, Herman Schupbach of Postville, Iowa.