Bert Butikofer
Bert Clarden Butikofer, son of Albert and Marie (Schupbach) Butikofer, was born June 8, 1925 in Elgin, Iowa. He was raised and educated in rural Clayton County Schools and baptized into the Apostolic Christian Church, June 8, 1946.
Bert was deployed for 16 months to South Korea, and returned to marry Beulah Favrhow on February 22, 1953 in Taylor, Missouri.
On August 18, 1953 they moved to the Elgin/West Union area. Together they raised four children on their dairy farm. Bert enjoyed dairy farming, raising crops, working with his children on the farm, and many agricultural and church activities.
Bert was placed into the ministry in the Apostolic Christian Church on January 15, 1968 and served faithfully in the church for many years.
Bert entered the Good Samaritan Home on November 15, 2010 where he resided with his wife Beulah until his death on August 25, 2014.
Bert will be remembered for his humor which brightened the lives of family and friends.
Bert is survived by his wife, Beulah Margaret of sixty-one years, Good Samaritan Home, West Union, Iowa; his sons Lon (Sandy) of Manchester, Iowa and Tracy (special friend, Phyllis Fosaaen) of West Union, Iowa; his daughter, Melanie (Steve) Streicher of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Melisa (Tim) Gerst of Ryan, Iowa, Aaron (Andrea) Butikofer of Manchester, Iowa, Monica (Michael) Milovancev of Franklin, Tennessee, Maria (Dean) Rocke of Elgin, Iowa, Brandon Streicher of Washington DC and Sarah Streicher of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; great-grandchildren, Anelyse, Joseph, Jenna, Anthony, Jared, and Aleyna Gerst, Jaelyn Butikofer, Rylee Rocke, and Martyn Milovancev. In addition, Bert is survived by his four brothers, Harry, Paul (Mildred), Albert (LaVerne), William (Norma); a sister, Shirley Nester; a brother-in-law, Wilbur Wiegand; sister-in-law, Bertha Butikofer and many nieces and nephews.
Bert was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Marie Butikofer; his sisters, Anna, Elizabeth and Ruth and brother, Rueben.
In addition to losing his parents and siblings, Bert suffered the loss of his eldest child, Tony Bert Butikofer, 18 on May 21, 1972 and his oldest grandson, Jerry Lynn Butikofer, 16, son of Lon and Sandy Butikofer on July 10, 1998, both of tragic motor vehicle accidents.
Visitation was held on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 from 4-7 pm at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elgin, Iowa and one hour before services at the church on Thursday.
Funeral Services were held at 10:30 am on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at the Apostolic Church, Elgin, Iowa.
Burial followed at the Apostolic Cemetery, Elgin, Iowa.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Elgin, Iowa helped the family with the arrangements. 36u36