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1921 - 2007
Vincent Haviland Butler was born on March 11, 1921 in Howard City, Michigan, the son of Merritt Freeman and Lida Blanche (Losinger) Butler. He was a direct descendant of Captain Joseph Butler, who fought at the battles of Concord and Bunker Hill during the American Revolution.
From 1946 to 1949, Fr. Butler served in the U.S. Army, and was stationed at Heidelberg and Frankfurt, Germany. He was ordained a minister of the Evangelical Church at Heidelberg, Germany, in 1947. He served as liaison between the U.S. Army and the local German population because he was the only bilingual member of the Office of the Chaplain of Headquarters European Command (EUCOM).
From 1952 to 1954, Fr. Butler studied at the Episcopal seminary at Nashotah House, Wisconsin. In 1954, he was ordained a priest of the Episcopal Church in Chicago, Illinois. In 1956, he and his family moved to Germany, where he studied philosophy at the Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn. In 1961, the family moved to Turkey at the invitation of Patriarch Athenagoras of the Greek Orthodox Church. Fr. Butler studied at the Patriarchal Seminary at Calchi, while also serving as chaplain at American military installations around Turkey at the behest of the Episcopal Church. From 1961 to 1965, he served as personal chaplain to Patriarch Athenagoras.
From 1968 to 1986, Fr. Butler officiated as priest of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Peoria, Illinois. He also served as President of the Peoria Northside Action Council for a decade. During his retirement, he served for a few months as priest of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, and thereafter at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greenville, Michigan, for eight years.
On May 24, 1942, he married Muriel Marie Paulen in Howard City, Michigan. She survives, with their four children: Heidi Butler (J. Robert) Schmidt of Iowa City, Iowa; retired Lt. Cmr. Dean (Janet) Butler of Stillwater, Minnesota; Gregory (Tina) Butler of Walnut Creek, California, and Theresa Butler Bagavandoss of Canton, Ohio. He is survived by seven grandchildren: Mark Butler, Kenny and Keith Butler, Jamie and Cassie Butler, and Sumitha and Kavitha Bagavandoss; as well as three nieces, Marcelon Williams Kert of Washington, D.C., Sharon Butler Dee Gibbons of Harrisburg, Illinois, and Mary Ellen Butler Galvin of White Lake, Michigan.
Fr. Butler died on June 14, 2007 in Canton, Ohio. The funeral service will be held Saturday, June 23, 2007 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greenville, Michigan at 11 A.M., with visitation from 10 A.M. Burial will be in the Pierson Cemetery south of Howard City, Michigan. The Hurst Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Fr. Butler was a man of great learning and great kindness who was beloved wherever he served people as a priest around the world. He was devoted to his family, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
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There are currently 8 condolences.
Raymond Charles Segar
Wednesday September 17, 2008 at
9:33 AM
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Dear Butler Family: Our prayers are with your family. Vincent was greatly loved and admired by his Segar cousins and he was a spiritual mentor to our family. His life on earth truly reflected the goodness and love of God.
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Father Theodore Sirotko
Monday June 25, 2007 at
7:56 PM
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Dear Marie, Our prayers are with you on the loss of Father Vincent. I remember with great gratitude his filling in for me when I had to be away from Saint Peter's By-the-Lake, Montague, some years ago. He was a very learned and orthodox priest, for whom we had the greatest admiration and respect. I'm recovering from a recent surgery, and yet unable to travel the distance to Greenville. He will be missed by all who knew him. May God the Holy Spirit strengthen you and your family each day.
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Fr. Joseph Neiman
Monday June 25, 2007 at
4:57 PM
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Muriel and family... I was sad to learn of Vincent's death. While I did not know him well, we met on numerous occasions and I had great respect for him. He was a fine priest and scholar.
Peace.....
Joseph Neiman+
Retired rector from St. Mark's Paw Paw and editor Western Mi Episcopalian.
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Jackie Kocher, Coral
Friday June 22, 2007 at
12:24 PM
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Dear Marie and Family,
Thinking of you with our Sympathy and Love with the assurance of Heavenly Peace.
Jackie Kocher and Family
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Alice Cesar
Thursday June 21, 2007 at
9:03 PM
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Marie & Family
I was so sad to hear of the death of Fr. Butler. He was a kind, gentle soul and he will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time. Love to all Alice
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The Rt. Rev. Edward L. Lee, Jr.
Thursday June 21, 2007 at
5:36 PM
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Dear Marie,
With sadness but with gratitude for his life, ministry and friendship I have learned of the death of your beloved Vince. I remember vividly and gratefully those occasions during my time as bishop of Western Michigan when you and Vince would welcome me warmly and we would then engage in wonderful conversations about parishes you served and places where you lived during the course of your lifetime in this country and abroad. They were always delightful. You will very much be in my thoughts and prayers on Saturday when the life of Vince will be celebrated and commended to God at St. Paul's, Greenville, a parish he cared for so deeply during my time and tenure.
Blessings on you, dear lady, as our compassionate Christ tenders to you comfort and strength at this sad time.
+Edward
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Rozanne Elder
Thursday June 21, 2007 at
1:53 PM
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The members of the Ecumenical Committee of the Diocese of Western Michigan join me in assuring you of our prayers that Fr Vincent may rest in peace and rise in joy. His experience and insight contributed greatly to our work.
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Fr John Hills, Muskegon
Thursday June 21, 2007 at
10:58 AM
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Dear Marie and family: Vince was every inch a Christian believer, gentleman and priest - wise, witty, patient, welcoming. Marie, you and Vince as commuters to St Paul's, Grand Rapids, and to diocesan doings, were a delight and an inspiration.I expect that your faithfulness to each other and to Christ is an anchor now for you!....I am caring for my partner, very limited in mobility after foot surgery this past Monday, and am unable to come to Greenville on Saturday - but I am very much with you all in thought....A strange fact has linked Vince, John English and myself: we each had a Jewish grandfather!....With admiration, love and prayer, John Hills
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