Joy Elizabeth (Clark) Butz

Joy Elizabeth Clark Butz, of De Pere, died peacefully surrounded by family on September 21, 2015. She was born on October 18, 1922 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The daughter of the late John Landsborough Clark and Joy Miller Clark, Joy graduated from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion in 1944 with a major in Spanish and a minor in English. While at USD, she was a proud member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. On May 7, 1946 she was united in marriage to Donald M. Butz in Hecla, South Dakota. After their wedding they moved to De Pere, Wisconsin, where Don was in business at Royal Cleaners Launderers. Joy’s legacy is her love and devotion to family. She was married to Don for 41 years until his death in 1988, and together they raised a close-knit family of seven children. She was a woman of quiet faith and great inner strength, leading by example and passing on her strong values to her children and grandchildren. Learning was a lifelong passion that Joy also passed on to her children and grandchildren. When a question would arise she was known to grab an encyclopedia or grammar book to find (or verify) the answer. She also appreciated the beauty of music and art, supporting her children and grandchildren in pursuing music lessons and proudly enjoying many concerts and recitals. Joy was a gifted seamstress, making quilts for the St. Mary’s Auxiliary and eventually creating over fifty keepsake quilts for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She raised parakeets with her youngest daughter, Christine, in the 1970s, at one point overseeing an aviary of over 100 parakeets. Joy took great pleasure in chronicling her family history in photo albums. An avid photographer her whole life, she learned from Charlie and Vi Leininger in addition to attending professional seminars to hone her photographic skills. Her hobby blossomed into a career as she won several awards for black and white portraiture from the Kodak Institute, learned printing techniques in her home darkroom, and became a freelance wedding photographer. She also volunteered in creating the first yearbooks at Notre Dame Grade School, working tirelessly taking pictures of sports teams and clubs, creating the layout and design, and overseeing production of these yearbooks for many years. Community service was an important aspect of Joy’s life. She volunteered at the Montessori School in Green Bay, served two terms on the Notre Dame Grade School Board, and also volunteered at the library and in the classroom at Notre Dame Grade School. She served on the St. Vincent Hospital Auxiliary, the Woman’s Club of De Pere, and volunteered as a driver and organizer with Mobile Meals. She was involved in many service projects while a member of St. Mary Parish of De Pere, including serving as a Eucharistic Minister. Survivors include two sons: John (Janice) Butz and Joel (Debra) Butz; five daughters: Barbara (James) Spitzer, Mary (Mark) Lewis, Catherine (David) Barrett, Debra (Gordon) Renn, Christine (Thomas) McEnery, 20 grandchildren: Angela (Mike) Callahan, Donald C. Butz, Jacob Butz, Amanda Butz, Sara (Scott) Peterson, Benjamin (Katie) Wehner, Matthew (Julia) Barrett, Daniel (Ashley) Barrett, Elizabeth (Brad) Stanley, Emily (Thomas) Hovis, Mark Barrett, Joy (Dan) Kurber, Jon Szymanski, Laura Szymanski, Stephanie (Bill) Schmitt, Daniel (Meg) Butz, Thomas Butz, Suzanne Butz, Griffin McEnery and Grace McEnery, and 20 great grandchildren. Also survived by sister-in-law Mary Anne Clark; Don’s family: Roy (Rose Anne) Butz, Ken Butz, Donna Mae Butz Frank, Gerald (Karen) Butz, sister-in-law Ellie Butz and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; great grandchild Elaina Kate Callahan, sister Mary (Jay) Swisher; brother John M. Clark; Don’s family: Olive (Clem) Simon; Gordon (Iola) Butz, Francis Butz; Gladys Butz, Sylvia Butz and Albert P. Frank. Family and friends may visit at Resurrection Catholic Parish, 333 Hilltop Drive, Allouez, on Friday the 25th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. A parish prayer service will conclude the visitation at 7:00pm. Visitation will continue at Resurrection at 8:30 a.m. Saturday the 26th until 9:45 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. with Fr. Willard Van De Loo officiating. Immediately following the Mass, a procession will leave for Allouez Catholic Mausoleum, where Joy will be entombed. Cotter Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family. Online condolences at www.cotterfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, memorial donations will be used to support Parkinson’s research in Joy’s name. Our family would like to thank the staff at Bellevue Assisted Living, where Joy lived for the last nine years, and the many caring nurses at Unity Hospice; we are so grateful for the spiritual ministers and friends that faithfully guided her on her final journey. PLEASE SEND MEMORIAL DONATIONS TO: UVA NEUROLOGY PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH-- C/O: SUSAN DIETRICH, 500 RAY C. HUNT DRIVE, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22903 IN MEMORY OF JOY CLARK BUTZ.

Reception:
The Rite Place
1580 Bellevue Road
Green Bay, WI 54311