John Wayne
Butkis
Cambridge-John
Wayne Butkus,
77, of
Cambridge,
passed away
peacefully
on Tuesday,
June 13,
2017 into
his son’s
arms at the
Southwestern
Vermont
Medical
Center in
Bennington
with his
loving wife
at his side.
Wayne was
predeceased
by his son,
Stanley and
his parents,
John and
Irene (Hunt)
Butkus.
Wayne is
survived by
his best
friend and
wife, Chris;
two sons,
John V.
Butkus and
Albert
Butkus, both
of Richmond,
VT; his
first wife,
Sandy also
of Richmond,
VT and his
feline
companions,
Zoom,
Chester and
Clide.
Wayne was
considered a
local
because he
had
graduated
from
Cambridge
Central
School and
had joined
the Vermont
National
Guard. He
had served
as the
Cambridge
Assessor,
and was King
Lion of the
Cambridge
Lions Club.
He purchased
his father’s
IGA Store in
Eagle Bridge
where he
enjoyed
custom
cutting
meat, making
his famous
hot and
sweet
sausage, or
aging and
smoking
other
delights. On
Sunday
mornings,
friends
would gather
around for
coffee, and
swapping
stories as
Wayne worked
his magic on
a side of
beef. In
fact, that’s
where he met
the love of
his life,
Chris. She
was a new
teacher at
Cambridge
Central
School and
had come to
the store to
buy fresh
chuck
steaks.
Wayne knew
that he was
going to
marry that
woman, and
45 years
later the
romance
still
blossomed.
They were
true
soulmates.
After
designing
and building
their
passive
solar home
in Eagle
Bridge, he
switched
professions
when he
started
Butkus
Residential
Contracting
Services.
Wayne built,
remodeled,
and restored
old homes,
sometimes
partnering
with his
best friend
Scott to
complete
some
complicated
jobs. On
summer
vacations,
Chris worked
along his
side, she
definitely
was not a
city gal.
After Chris
and Wayne
retired,
they played
golf and
were
regulars at
Windy Hills
Golf Course
with golf
buddies Ray,
Don and
John.
Wayne and
Chris were
avid
outdoorsmen
enjoying 4
wheeling,
fishing and
hunting. At
Wayne’s
request, his
ashes will
be spread on
his favorite
deer path on
the
mountain.
It was
Wayne’s wish
that
donations be
made in his
memory to
the
Cambridge
Valley
Seniors, 5
Park Place,
Cambridge,
NY 12816.
Heartfelt
thanks to
Rita, for
caring for
the cats,
and checking
on Chris
twice when
her phone
died and
reminding
her that
Tuesday was
indeed
today;
thanks to
Cathy for
remembering
stories
about
Stanley and
Wayne, and
the St.
Luke’s Place
family for
being on
high alert
these past
few months.
Chris
requested
that when
you think of
Wayne that
you send a
memory and
mail it to
her at 7 St.
Luke’s
Place,
Cambridge,
NY 12816
which will
be for her
memory book.
Chris would
like to
thank all
the doctors
and staff at
Twin Rivers
Medical,
Hoosick
Falls
Rehabilitation,
Southwestern
Vermont
Emergency
Room, and
especially
the staff at
the ICU for
their sense
of humour
and kind and
compassionate
care of
Wayne.
Special
thanks for
finding Rev.
Paul Baker
(love and
thanks
Paul), and
the dietary
staff for
locating and
serving
Wayne his
favorite
dessert,
mandarin
orange
slices. With
his sense of
humor, Wayne
was a
patient that
they won’t
forget.
It was
Wayne’s
requested
that no
formal
funeral
services be
held. He
wanted
everyone to
remember him
for who he
was.
Class of 1959
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