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William Joseph Butzen, 96, of Ottawa, passed away Monday, Nov. 1. Visitation will be on Saturday, Nov. 6, at St. Francis Church from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Francis Church in Ottawa. Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.

William “Bill” was born on Oct. 3, 1925, to William and Cecilia Butzen in Edinburg, Texas. He grew up there until the family moved to Poplar Bluff, Missouri when he was 12 years old. He was a farmer there, raising dairy cattle, corn, beans, and cotton. He was in the army during World War II (June 1944-April 1946), stationed in Germany and Belgium. Because he knew the German language, he served as interpreter. He was in the Battle of the Bulge.

He married Margaret Weidenbenner on Feb. 20, 1950. They had four daughters. Bill moved his family from Poplar Bluff, Missouri to Ottawa, Illinois in 1965 upon taking a job at the Ottawa Sanitation Plant. Several years later, he became the superintendent at the plant. During his years there, he received various awards from the Illinois Association of Water Pollution Control Operators in recognition of exceptional and efficient operation of a wastewater treatment plant: 1990 Plant Operator of the Year, 1991 Plant of the Year, 1994 Plant Operator of the Year.
Bill served as President of the St. Columba PTA and taught religious education at both St. Columba and St. Francis parishes.

Bill is survived by his wife Margaret and his four daughters, Joanne (Jim) Sheridan, Rita (David) Murdock, Phyllis Butzen, and Rosemary (Kevin) Beever, six grandchildren, Tony (Andrea), Robert (Jennifer), and Michael Murdock, Joseph Butzen, and Michael and Therese Beever, four great-grandchildren, Ryan, Corinne, Waylon, Alva, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his five siblings, Louise, Bernard, Frances, Frank, and Therese.

The online guest book may be viewed and remembrances shared at www.ottawafuneralhome.com

Ottawa Funeral Home & Crematory
1111 LaSalle St, Ottawa Illinois 61350
815-433-0300
www.ottawafuneralhome.com

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