William R. Butler Jr.

William R. Butler, Jr. was born to William Russell and Augusta (Hartley) Butler on July 15, 1929, in Paola, Kansas.  He left this earth peacefully on June 8, 2024, after a life very well lived.  He was a lifetime member of the Osawatomie Community where he attended Osawatomie schools, graduating from Osawatomie High School in 1947. He was honored and humbled to receive the Outstanding Alumni Award from his Osawatomie Alumni Association in 2012.

During high school he was an active DeMolay member and later became the Chapter Advisor, a position he held for over 15 years.  Since that time, he was involved in various community activities: as a successful owner and operator of several businesses; as a member and organizer of numerous community projects; and as a willing volunteer for dozens of local civic endeavors.

As a child, he and his family lived in a house in John Brown Park where his father was caretaker of the park and facilities.  As a young boy, he would give tours of the John Brown Cabin, with many of these tours ending with a tip from appreciative tourists and thus his entrepreneurial spirit was ignited!  His love of the Park continued throughout his life, as on any given day one might have seen him sweeping out the shelter house, painting the picnic tables or covering up the graffiti that sometimes would appear. When the Shelter House needed repairs and Memorial Hall needed sprucing up, he was one of the first to help organize the troops to get the work done.

He and Patricia L. Baxter were united in marriage on August 28, 1964, at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Osawatomie.  They completed their family when their two daughters, Michelle Rae and Kendra Jean were born.

In 1966, he formed and led an investment group that built Holiday Manor.  This facility, now Life Care Center of Osawatomie, offers skilled nursing and therapy for residents from all areas and employs over 125 employees. He served on numerous committees to build the Eastgate Complex, the Pride Plaza Memorial, the SRS Office, the Railroad Depot Museum and solicited support and collected many thousands of dollars in donations for the scholarship program for the Miami County YMCA when it was constructed and attached to the Osawatomie High School.  Some have said, “When you see Bill coming, you better guard your billfold because he’s probably asking for donations for one cause or another.”

Always involved in the welfare of his town and its citizens, he served on numerous community projects including Christmas in October, as a driver for the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery, the Museum Board, the “Save the Osawatomie State Hospital” Committee, the Osawatomie Community Fund and the Miami County Hospital Board to name a few.  Bill had a knack of purchasing businesses that were selling to make sure there was a vibrant Main Street – running The Music Center, Radio Shack, Montgomery Ward and later bringing Bill’s Dollar Store to town.

Bill was also a public servant and represented Osawatomie in various positions. He served as a City Councilman in addition to a Miami County Commissioner for 10 years. As a County Commissioner, he was instrumental in getting 169 Highway widened to four lanes and was very passionate about the issue.  For eight years he served as a Silver-Haired Legislator representing Miami County. When Leadership Miami County program was organized, he organized yearly trips to the State Capitol so young business leaders could meet and visit directly with their legislators about their cares and concerns.

His last community involvement, and one he was most passionate about, was for the local Oz Food Pantry. He spent hours sorting and organizing the shelves of food donations from the community in preparation for Wednesday distribution. He also attended Harvester’s University, graduating with a perfect grade learning how to keep the many donated freezers he solicited cold and ensuring a healthy environment for the food products he distributed.

Besides his many community projects, he was a loving husband and partner to his wife of 58 years, Pat, a wonderful father and supporter of his daughters, Michelle and Kendra, a friend and project helper to his favorite son-in-law, Tyler, and a friend to many in his community.  He especially loved the Christmas holiday and was a pro at finding just ‘the right stocking stuffer’, wrapping each one individually, and delighting when they were opened.  His daughters carry on that stocking stuffer tradition to this day.  We are most grateful for his quiet strength, loving support, his work ethic, leadership in his community and for being a wonderful Girl Dad.

Bill is survived by his daughters Michelle Butler (Tyler Johnson) of Topeka, and Kendra Butler of Olathe, his brother-in-law Ron Baxter, Omaha, and nephews Scott, Greg, and Patrick Baxter, Omaha.  He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Patricia, his parents, his in-laws Stanley and Helen O’Berg, and a number of aunts and uncles.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his honor to the Oz Food Pantry or to the William R. Butler OHS Scholarship Fund.

When Bill received the Citizen of the Year Award in 2010, a close friend recalled that Bill mentioned a speaker who encouraged each person to “pay their community rent” and if each did pay their community rent, what a great community it would be. He said: “Bill Butler has been paying his “community rent” for more than 50 years – he truly makes a difference in people’s lives.”  Yes, indeed he did, and may we all follow Bill’s lead.