Jerome Butkowski

Jerome L. Butkowski, age 81 of Melrose died peacefully Thursday, September 23, 2004 at his home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, September 27 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vincent Lieser officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday and from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. St. Bernard's Society Catholic Aid and Freeport Fire Department will pray at 7 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 8 p.m.

Jerome Butkowski was born on March 15, 1923 in St. Rosa, Minnesota to Ignatius and Anna (Korte) Butkowski. He was united in marriage to Mary Ann Middendorf on May 8, 1945 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. The couple farmed near Freeport while owning and operating Butkowski Trucking Company. The couple moved to Melrose in 1962 when Jerome began working for Tri-City Paving until his retirement in 1989. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose and St. Bernard's Society Catholic Aid. Jerome enjoyed fishing, hunting, going on casino trips, and raising beef cattle on his hobby farm.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann Butkowski of Melrose; children, Harvey Butkowski and his wife, Joanne of Melrose, Ron Butkowski and his wife, Terry of Melrose, Shirley Dahle and her husband, Kevin of Alexandria, Jerry Butkowski and his wife, Janet of Freeport, Lisa Wiechmann and her husband, Allan of Melrose and Lori Leach and her husband, Ron of Sauk Centre; 16 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Olivia Beste of Cold Spring, Bernice Herzog of Watertown, SD, Roger Butkowski and his wife, Beverly of St. Rosa, Lucille Stanek and her husband, George of Bloomington, Marvin Butkowski and his wife, Dorothy of Minnetonka, Dorothy Weller and her husband, Cap of Belgrade, LaVerne Fleischaker and her husband, Norb of Maplewood, Annette Hollenkamp and her husband, Sylvester of St. Rosa, Melvin Butkowski and his wife, Carol of St. Joseph and Raymond Butkowski and his wife, Lonnie of St. Rosa.

Jerome was preceded in death by his parents, Ignatius and Anna Butkowski; and brother, Florian Butkowski.

Serving as casket bearers will be Ross Wiechmann, Derek Dahle, Steve Butkowski, Matt Butkowski, Charlie Leach, Nathan Leach, Peter Leach and Scott Butkowski. Serving as cross bearer will be Heather Butkowski and Sheila Hellermann will be the scripture bearer. Honorary bearers will be Jim Primus, Harvey Middendorf, Tony Wegleitner, John Middendorf, Ervin Wiechmann, George Middendorf, Joe Weber, Joel Middendorf, Butch Klaphake and Bernard Bussmann.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Michael's Hospice.