In partnership with
John M. Butler, 79, of Chatham, passed away on October 21, 2018. A celebration of his life will be held at Wm. A. Bradley & Son Funeral Home, 345 Main St. in Chatham on Saturday, November 10th at 4:00pm. Friends are invited to visit from 2 to 4pm prior to the service. For further information or to send a condolence, please visit www.bradleyfuneralhomes.com.
Born in Summit, the son of Doyle and Elizabeth (Ford) Butler, John was a longtime resident of Chatham Borough where he graduated from High School in 1956. He had also attended the University of Idaho. John worked for many years with PSE&G in Roseland. A member of the Chatham Borough Volunteer Fire Department he was also involved in the Boy Scouts and was a member of the Past Time Club in Mendham. John was a Civil War buff and enjoyed reading and bowling. John will be fondly remembered for his kindness and his remarkable sense of humor.
John was the beloved husband of 50 years to Ellen. He was the loving father of Shannon Butler and her husband Joseph Tomaszewski. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Victoria Kwiatkowski and her fiancé Christian Jannicelli and Morgan Broussard and his wife Nicole, and great grandson, Ambrose. In lieu flowers, donations in John’s memory may be made to Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Ave., Suite 203, Roseland, NJ 07068
James Warters
Taking a seat next to him, I introduced myself as the new guy and asked if there was anything I could do to help with his mood. John sighed again, then sadly described the trials and tribulations of living with a woman who had gained so much weight she was fast approaching 500 pounds. We commiserated for a bit then went our separate ways.
Shortly afterward, I had the pleasure to meet Ellen Butler - I hadn't recognized her as she was a little slip of a girl, barely over a hundred pounds. I said nothing to Ellen about my conversation with John, but did a little bit of cussing when I saw him again. John just sat there with his understated grin and twinkle in his eye and offered to pour the next drink.
Thus was my introduction to a gentle giant who could tell whoppers with the best of them while always making himself available to help on any project without being asked. Our families grew closer over the years, sharing many wonderful and interesting times. Inevitably, as jobs and family changes separated us, we grew more distant physically, but never in our hearts or minds.
It was with great sadness I learned of John's passing. Truly, the end of an era. However, his sly sense of humor and love for (most) all God's creatures lives on in us with each memory of a time that John made us laugh or cry or cuss - often at the same time. Goodbye, my friend - I'll miss you...