William F. Butka, Jr.

   William F. Butka, Jr., 86, of Manchester, died April 15, 2023 at his home after a period of declining health.

   He was born in Dunmore, PA on February 28, 1937 and was the son of William and Anne (Capulish) Butka.  He grew up in Scranton, PA where he graduated from Technical High School.  He lived in Manchester for many years and had wintered in Gulfport, FL.

   He served in the U.S. Air Force for over eight years.

   William worked as a sales representative for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for many years and was able to retire at age 59.   

   He was a member of the League of 1000 Men of the Precious Blood and St. Joseph Society.  He was a communicant of St. Hedwig Parish where he had volunteered at Friday night Bingo for 30 years.  He greatly enjoyed working around his home at home improvement projects, including a beautiful in-ground pool that he dug by hand 50 years ago. 

   William was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Marguerite Y. (Roux) Butka in August of 2022.

   He is survived by three children, Judith Van Kalken and her husband, Dan, of Dunbarton, James Butka and Jennifer Kaminski and her husband, Chester, all of Manchester; two grandchildren, Dan Van Kalken and Justin Van Kalken; two great grandchildren, Rose Van Kalken and Duke Van Kalken; a brother, Edward Butka and his wife, Patricia of New York; a half-brother, Robert Butka of Pennsylvania and nieces and nephews.

   SERVICES: Calling hours are Thursday (4/20) from 5 to 7 p.m. at Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory, 1799 Elm St., Manchester.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday (4/21) at 10 a.m. at St. Hedwig Church, on the corner of Beech and Orange streets, Manchester.  Committal prayers will follow at St. Hedwig Cemetery in Bedford.

   Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.