William Delbert Butzlaff

• Visitation, Friday August 28th at the Funeral Home (9200 S. 27th St.) from 11AM-12:30PM
• Musical Prelude from 12:30PM-1PM
• Funeral Service at 1PM

William Delbert Butzlaff, of Franklin, Wisconsin, was reunited with his beloved wife, Marie, (nee Broberg) on August 23, 2020, at the age of 96.  He was the proud and loving father of Donald Butzlaff (Kerry), Janet Carpenter (David), and Jeffrey Butzlaff (Lisa).  His adoring grandchildren, Chad Butzlaff, Courtney Pucylowski (Shawn), Sarah Lafrenz (Armond), Kaitlin Kaufmann (Bradley), Michael Butzlaff, Matthew Butzlaff (Linnea), and Kelsey Butzlaff remember him to be a guiding presence in their lives, now followed by eight great-grandchildren.  William was one of twelve children, now survived by siblings, Ronald Butzlaff, Grace Meitner, and Gloria Kraus, along with many nieces and nephews.

William led a life focused on sharing and giving, on watching over others, on providing for others, and on living life with and for the strength and bonding found within his family.  Family gatherings were central to his life and his entire family (the Butzlaffs), along with the family of his wife Marie’s family ( the Brobergs).    Bill grew up in the Milwaukee area and met Marie, who was from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, at Allis Chalmer’s where they both began working in their twenties.  So began the journey of two large families who joined together for weekends, holidays, vacations, and celebrations and tribulations of life.

William was a loyal, dedicated employee of Allis Chalmers, working on some of America’s largest power dams, supervising projects on the monstrous generators providing the water power.  He loved to tell the stories of flying into remote areas on sometimes two-seater planes, sometimes barely making it over the mountains, or adventures ascending or descending icy mountain passes.  The Lord kept him safe, to return safely to his beloved family.

After an early retirement in his late fifties, he and Marie moved to Stephenson, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where he said he “lived the happiest days of his life.”  Gardening was his passion, and was central to his being, taking him back to the roots of his ancestors whose livelihood depended on growing and selling their produce.  He now had time to hunt and fish with his Broberg family, and  his home was opened up to relatives who flowed in and out of their home on a daily basis.  Delicious food, fun, and laughter abounded in this wonderful home.

Returning to the Milwaukee area in his eighties with his beloved wife, they lived out the remainder of their lives closer to their children and grandchildren and other family members.  As their health began to fail, he and Marie lived at Elizabeth Residence in Franklin, close to his son Jeffrey and daughter-in- law, Lisa, who gave unselfishly of their time and energy to keep them connected to family and meeting their day to day needs.  Together with the caregivers of Elizabeth Residence and Horizon Home Healthcare, Bill was surrounded in loving care to his dying day.

William was truly a giving servant of God, and his faith and love of family were his guiding forces.  May he find eternal join reunited with his Lord and wonderful family who preceded him.

Visitation will take place at Heritage Funeral Home at 9200 S. 27^th St., Oak Creek, Wisconsin from 11AM-12:30PM, on Friday, August 28, musical prelude from 12:30PM-1:00PM, and service at 1:00PM.  In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Horizon Homecare and Hospice. Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, everyone is asked to be patient and abide to social distancing guidelines. Everyone is welcome, but we are allowing a limited number of people in the building at any given time. Mask are required.

HERITAGE FUNERAL HOMES

9200 S. 27^TH ST.      414-761-2750

heritagefuneral.com