Harold G. Butzer

Harold Godfrey Butzer peacefully took his leave on September 6, 2014, at the age of 92, surrounded by his devoted family. He was born at his grandmother's home in Mary's Home, MO, on December 28, 1921, to Guido Gottfried Butzer and Elizabeth Emma Angenendt Butzer. He attended St. Peter's grade school and high school, graduating in 1940. His college education at Rolla School of Mines and Metallurgy (UMR) was interrupted by service in WWII as a commissioned officer in the Army Corps of Engineers in the European Theatre. Following military service, Harold returned to college, earning his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1947. While at Rolla he was a member of the Theta Kappa Phi social fraternity, the Theta Tau professional engineering fraternity, the Blue Key honor society, and he served as reporter and managing editor of The Miner. From an early age, Harold worked side-by-side with his father Guido in the plumbing business. After college graduation, Harold temporarily resumed working for his dad and, in 1948, he purchased his father's business. He expanded as Harold G. Butzer Inc., to include HVAC, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Process Piping, Industrial Equipment Installation, and Design-Build Services. Harold spent a total of 63 years in the mechanical contracting business, retiring at the age of 88. On June 24, 1950, Harold was married to Catherine Louise Markle, of Jefferson City, at Immaculate Conception Church. They shared 64 years of marriage. In addition to his wife, Harold is survived by his four daughters and their spouses: D'Arcy & Jim Blosser, Lincoln, NE; Lisa & Paul Dulle, Jefferson City, MO; Vanessa & Matt Robe, Columbia, MO; and Nikki & Dan Sims, Leawood, KS; as well as nine grandchildren: Elizabeth Blosser Waller (Mike), Megan Blosser Hobbs (John); Brent Butzer Dulle (Alex), Alexandra Dulle; Kristian Robe, Peter Robe; Katherine Sims, Will Ben Sims, Mary Margaret Sims; one great-grandson due in the fall, cousin Omar (Linda) Butzer, Mountain Home, Idaho, and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Butzer was involved in numerous civic and professional organizations, (local, state, and national), many in which he held leadership positions: Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), Mechanical Contractors Association of Eastern Missouri, Mechanical Contractors Association of St. Louis; Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association, Sheet Metal Contractors of Central Missouri; Missouri Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors (President 1974-75), Plumbing Industry Council of St. Louis, and Joint Labor-Management Apprenticeship of Central Missouri. He and his wife traveled with the MCAA on eight foreign study missions to Europe, South America, Asia, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. In all, Harold visited 31 countries in his lifetime of learning. Mr. Butzer was a registered Professional Engineer in Missouri, a member of the Engineers Club of Jefferson City (received the Professional Engineers in Industry Distinguished Engineer Award), Missouri and National Societies of Professional Engineers. Harold was active in the UMR Alumni Association, a member of both the UMR Order of the Golden Shillelagh and the Academy of Civil Engineering, and honored with a Professional Degree from UMR in 1998. Harold was active in Republican Party Politics: he served on the City Council of Jefferson City 1961-63, as President of both the Jefferson City and Cole Country Republican Committees, and as a member of the U.S. Electoral College in both the 1968 and 1972 elections. He was Founding Director of the Mid-Missouri Medical Foundation, serving on the Board from 1979 to 1994. He was on the first St. Mary's Lay Advisory Board established in 1961 and served for many decades with St. Mary's including on the Citizens Advisory Board and as Board President, and was honored as Man of the Year in 1968. He was elected to the Board of Directors of the Exchange National Bank (now Hawthorn Bank) in 1965 and served until recent years. Additionally, he served with the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce (VP 1966-68, President 1981), the Missouri State Chamber of Commerce (1968-1989, and Chair of Building Committee), and the Samaritan Center Building Committee (1998-99). He was a member of the Jefferson City Country Club from 1959, (President in 1980). Harold was also a member of the Rotary Club of Jefferson City and a Paul Harris Fellow. Mr. Butzer was a member of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Knights of Columbus, and the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. Harold enjoyed golf, fishing, Thursday night pitch games, telling stories and jokes, sawing wood, travel, learning new things, the Mary's Home Picnic, and time spent with family and friends at his cabin on the Osage River. He did extensive genealogy research which he relished sharing with relatives. He was a kind and gentle man, as well as an interesting and knowledgeable person who liked people, enjoyed life, and was grateful for life's blessings. He was preceded in death by his parents Guido and Lizzie; two sisters, Lucille Butzer and Irene Butzer Ulstad; and one brother Donald C. Butzer. Visitation will be 4:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, September 10th, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with a prayer service beginning at 4 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday, September 11th, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, 2303 W. Main Street, Jefferson City, MO, with Fr. Christopher Aubuchon as celebrant. Entombment with military honors will following at Resurrection Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Helias Foundation, St. Mary's Health Center Foundation, the Rotary International Foundation, or a charity of one's choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home, 3210 N. Ten Mile Dr., Jefferson City, MO. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.