Uncle Carl passed this last Friday, March 4. He was born Carl Eugene Butler, on June 11th, 1929. He had been struggling to overcome the effects of a stroke for the last few years and that was difficult for him. Regardless of his position in life – two things always took precedence – taking care of his family, and being outdoors. He was always an outdoorsman, and loved nothing better than hunting, fishing, and of course GOLF. That was what made his stoke so difficult – he had to give up many of the things that made him who he was.

I have many memories of Uncle Carl – most stemming form my younger years growing up in Manitowoc Wisconsin. I lived with my grandmother in a house overlooking the shipyards and Manitowoc river. He would often stop by to fish for Musky. He would pick me up in his red convertible (don’t remember which year or model) and we would drive down to one of the piers, where we would toss our lines in and wash and wax his car while waiting for the elusive musky. On one such occasion, I didn’t get the door closed completely as we were leaving so I went spilling into the dirt at the first corner. I was fine except for a few abrasions from the gravel.

Then my grandmother went into the hospital – and I had no place to live. Carl and his wife Elsie stepped forward and offered to take me when nobody else could or would. They didn’t have much in those days – Carl was working for a sheet metal company – and they already had 3 small children of their own (Scott, Sheree and Renee) but they took me in and tried to make me feel a part of the family. I lived with them for a year in Manitowoc Rapids. I will never forget their generosity.

Uncle Carl is gone now – the last of the Butler clan of that generation. He will be missed by us all.



Carl is the third from the bottom right in this Butler Family portrait. They are all back together again. Hope the muskies are biting! And as you once said to me so many years ago - "don't forget to set the hook"!