BUTIKOFER, Jr., John --- 1926-1989

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

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 12/10/2012 at 09:20:04

John Butikofer, Jr.

John Butikofer, Jr. died December 24, 1989, following a 6 and a half year fight with cancer. Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 27, 1:30 p.m. at Elgin Lutheran Church, Elgin, IA. Rev. Ernest T. Thompson officiated.

Interment was in the Apostolic Cemetery, rural Elgin. Muehlethaler Funeral Home, Elgin, was in charge of arrangements.

John Butikofer, son of John, Sr. and Louisa (Sutter) Butikofer, was born July 26, 1926 on a farm near Elgin. He attended country school near his home and graduated from Elgin High School in May, 1945.

On September 9, 1946 he entered the U. S. Army and served until receiving his honorable discharge April 22, 1947; including 3 months overseas. After military service he returned home to continue farming with his family.

June 27, 1954 he married Donna Bergan at the Marion Lutheran Church, Gunder. The couple had 3 sons and one daughter.

They operated the family farm where John grew up. As his sons joined the family operation he also began working for Bob Falb Implement as a mechanic and trucker until his retirement in August, 1988.

He was a member of the Elgin Lutheran Church and the Elgin American Legion.

Survivors include his wife, Donna; a daughter, Trudy (Bill) Wessels of Durham, NC; 3 sons, Dave, Terry and Rodney, all of Elgin; a granddaughter, Kelsey Rae; 2 brothers, Lawrence of Elgin and Lewis of Lakeland, FL; 4 sisters, Elsie Torkelson and Mildred Schupbach, both of Elgin, Eunice Schlee of Postville, Eleanor Loftsgard of Norwood, MO; a half-sister, Oma Lee Strong of Cedar Rapids and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a stepfather, Louis; and 1 sister, Helen.

Casket bearers were Larry Butikofer, Richard and John Schupbach, Jeff Schlee, Bill Torkelson and Norman Loftsgard.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping, from Dorothy Schave's obituary collection.