Repose, wake, Mass set for longtime West Seattleite Joe Butzerin

From the family of Joe Butzerin, a longtime West Seattleite known for many endeavors:

A Requiem Mass will be held for Joe Butzerin at Holy Rosary Catholic Church at 10:30 am on Monday, July 11th. Starting Friday, July 8, at noon, Joe will be in repose at the Butzerin home at 4903 SW Hill Street, where visitors will be welcome at any time. A wake will be held on Saturday at 7:00 pm.

Joe passed away peacefully on July 5th at his home, surrounded by family after complications from heart failure. Joe was born July 25, 1931 in Minneapolis, but he had resided in West Seattle since shortly after his marriage to Kathryn Freitas-Fox in 1958. Joe served as a first lieutenant in Korea after ROTC at Gonzaga University. He started his civilian career in Seattle as a math teacher, first on Vashon Island and later at Chief Sealth High School. To help support his growing family, Joe worked summers as a meter reader at Seattle City Light, where he eventually became a full-time lighting consultant. Joe retired from City Light in 1997 after more than 35 years of service.

Joe served as Chairman of the 34th District Democrat Club for two terms. He was an exuberant activist in both local and national political campaigns, serving as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1980 [photo at right]. He greatly enjoyed his service on the King County Fair Board. Joe also served as Chair of the Holy Rosary Conference of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul.

Joe always said he was most proud of being a father to his six children: JoAnne, Teresa, Carla, Peter, Robert, and Mary; and his 14 grandchildren. He was dearly loved and will be sorely missed.

9 Replies to "Repose, wake, Mass set for longtime West Seattleite Joe Butzerin"

  • Erik July 7, 2011 (5:53 pm)

    RIP Joe

  • Kathy Florence July 7, 2011 (7:13 pm)

    Joe you will be missed.

  • Teresa July 7, 2011 (7:47 pm)

    Rest in Peace Dad. We’ll miss you.

  • RMK July 7, 2011 (8:17 pm)

    Arrangements entrusted to Howden-Kennedy Funeral Home of West Seattle.

  • JoAnne July 7, 2011 (9:19 pm)

    Folks, Fr. John Madigan will conduct a Rosary at 8:00 pm at the wake on Saturday.

    Thank you, West Seattle Blog!

    I love you Dad.

  • Dave July 7, 2011 (10:04 pm)

    May the road rise up to meet you.
    May the wind always be at your back.
    May the sun shine warm upon your face,
    and rains fall soft upon your fields.
    And until we meet again,
    May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

    ….Peace be with you Joe.

  • JoAnne July 8, 2011 (2:30 pm)

    Dad came home today for his repose, and he looks great. Thanks to Howden-Kennedy for their care and sensitivity in taking care him and our special arrangements.

    It means the world to us to have Dad home with us for these last final days and it’s very comforting to have him looking so well.

  • Blair Bolles July 8, 2011 (7:41 pm)

    I had Mr Butzerin my freshman year at Vashon High, he had a phrase that he used all the time whenever he led us in some mathematical discovery, it was “Azah”. Always wondered where he came up with that. If memory serves me correctly I believe he drove a Henry J automobile, not many of those in the parking lot? May the Lord give comfort to his family!

  • JoAnne July 16, 2011 (10:54 am)

    Thank you BB–how nice it is to hear that a student remembers him. He had a lot of those funny phrases. Some he got from army buddies and the rest I’ve no idea, but there were a lot.

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