George J. Butzer

George Butzer, 90, “sailed” away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 7, 2015 in the company of his loving wife, Audrey Limbert, his two sons, Peter and Jeff, and other family members. A 60-year resident of Delafield, WI, George’s wish to spend his last days enjoying the beautiful view of Lake Nagawicka from his home was fulfilled. Born May 14, 1924 in Milwaukee, WI to Julius George Butzer and Margaret Elizabeth (Wacker) Butzer, George lost his mother in childbirth. His father’s subsequent marriage to Norma Piepenhagen provided “Georgie” with a doting mother. George grew up in Wauwatosa, graduating in 1942 from Wauwatosa High School. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the Army with his sights set on serving his country during WWII in the Army Air Corps. He achieved that goal, became a navigator of a B-17 serving in the European theater and flew 34 successful missions over Germany with the 390th Bomb Group. As part of the 390th, Lt. Butzer was awarded two presidential citations for attacks on German targets. After the war, George enrolled in the University of Wisconsin in Madison, earned a business degree, married and began raising a family with his wife, Susan (Becker) Butzer. Initially residing in Milwaukee, the family moved to Delafield in 1954. Extremely active in his community during the six decades that he resided there, George was a committed and enthusiastic civic leader and was involved in a myriad of organizations, several of which he was a founding/charter member. Charter memberships include: Delafield Community Chest (now the Greater Delafield Community Fund), for which he served as chairman for over three decades; the Delafield- Summit Lions Club and the Boy Scouts. Other organizations he was involved in were: Delafield Chamber of Commerce, Izaak Walton League, Nagawicka Lake Yacht club, and Post 196 Delafield American Legion. An advocate of local public education, George was a founding member and active participant in the Kettle Moraine H.S. Scholarship Foundation. George’s vocation was business and he owned and operated several successful companies, the “flagship” being the Butzer Insurance Agency, which he started in the ‘50’s in Milwaukee. George was not all work and no play. He loved playing poker with his cronies on most Friday nights in the “Dark Town Poker Club”. He enjoyed games of all types but especially bridge, which he and Audrey played every Wednesday with their many friends at Shorehaven in Oconomowoc. He loved to sail, both in Florida and on Lake Nagawicka and instilled that love of sailing and the water in all of his children. Another passion was travel and reminiscing about journeys he took all over the world. He especially loved his winters at The Driftwood Resort, in Vero Beach, Florida, and the deep friendships he and Audrey developed there over the years. George will be greatly missed by his wife Audrey Limbert of Delafield and her daughter Nancy Feldman, Green Bay, WI. His memory will also be cherished by his five children: Mary Louise (Gary) Gately of Des Moines, IA; Jeff (Jeanne) Butzer of Ft. Meyers Beach, FL; Linda (John) Snyder of Louisville, KY; Margaret (Joe) Scoufis of Loveland, CO; and Peter Butzer (Jodi White) of Oconomowoc, WI. Stories of his dauntless nature and penchant for adventure, and that legacy that he has passed along will be shared with his grandchildren: Robert Cook, Susannah Morris, Elizabeth Habermann, Ellen Kaye, Ted, Alex and Christine Scoufis, Ella, George and Kate Butzer, and step grandchildren Nick and Holly Feldman. George was preceded in death by his late wife Susan Butzer and his sister, Verna. Memorial service for George will be held at Delafield Presbyterian Church, 1851 Genesee Street in Delafield on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 11:00 AM. Visitation will be from 9:30 AM until the time of the service officiated by Pastor Bob Jensen. There will be a reception following the service in the church fellowship hall. Private burial will be held at Wisconsin Memorial Park in Brookfield. Memorial contributions may be directed to Delafield Presbyterian Church, University LakeSchool Foundation, or the Kettle Moraine High School Scholarship Fund.