Bill Butts

Mynard “Bill” Butts, 85, passed away on October 7, 2024 after a long courageous battle with esophageal cancer.  Born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, Bill and his family moved to Grand Rapids in 1952. Bill graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1957, where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Angie.

After graduation, Bill worked for Lear Siegler, and held marketing and sales roles at multiple advertising agencies.  He finished his career as a technical writer at Eaton Corporation. After retirement he started Butts Home Repair.

Bill was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He taught gun safety courses and was a gunsmith for many years. Bill was a big-time fisherman and enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren to fish on many Michigan waterways.

He was an incredible craftsman & woodworker. There wasn’t anything he could not build or fix.  He enjoyed many summers at Crystal Lake and winters on Anna Marie Island Florida.  He had a gift of meeting people and making friends wherever he went. 

Bill was a voracious reader and lover of history, especially those books about the US and World Wars. He also developed a love of ancestry and after much research authored a book titled; Butts in America. He helped his daughter become a DAR member through his research and record-keeping.

Bill is survived by his wife of 65 years, Angie Butts, sister Bonnie (Bob) Jeffrey, children De-de Mulligan, Joe (Annette) Butts, Paul Butts, Mary Beth (Randy) Stout, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Mynard Butts and his in-laws Paul and Mary Roese.

Relatives and Friends can visit with the family on  Friday October 11, 2024, from 3-6 pm at Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 4291 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan.  A short family remembrance of Bill will occur at 6 PM with a open house celebration to follow.

Instead of flowers, Angie and his children ask you to raise a glass of chardonnay or brandy in his honor.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bill Butts, please visit our floral store.