Peter Butus, 84

Born: Nov. 19, 1927

Died: June 27, 2012

Peter H. Butus, 84, of Niles, died with his family gathered around him at 12:50 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

He was born Nov. 19, 1927, in Lawton, Mich., to George and Julia (Laskovy) Butus. He was an active member of the Boy Scouts of America, earning the ultimate rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Lawton High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan College (now University) in Kalamazoo. He lived in Niles for 60 years and was the owner of Woodparts International of Elkhart, Ind.

Peter was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army, and had completed the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Western. He was a member of the board of the former First Commercial Bank (later Michigan National Band, now Bank of America), and a member of both the Edwardsburg and Cass County industrial development associations.

He enjoyed mountain climbing, joining the “Fifty-four-fourteen,” whose members have summited all 54 peaks in Colorado above 14,000 feet. He also enjoyed skiing and international adventure travel.

On Dec. 15, 1950, he married the former Kathlyn Ann VanHaften, with whom he celebrated the 61st anniversary of their wedding.

He is survived by his wife, Lyn Butus; their children, Julie Ann Butus, of Denver, Ind., and Keith Edward Butus, of Niles; and grandchildren, MacAllister B. (Vassana) Griffiths, Cassandra Butus, Laura Butus and Jillian Butus.

Peter was preceded in death by his parents; and by his siblings, Edward Butus, Helen Elenga and Laura Wiswell.

The family of Peter Butus will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, July 9, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. The visitation will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and taps by the United States Army Honor Guard.

Contributions in memory of Peter may be made to the Michigan Garden Clubs Scholarship Fund c/o Nancy McGilliard, 2339 Sapphire Lane, East Lansing, MI 48823-7263; or to the Stanley Clark School, 3123 Miami St., South Bend, IN 46614.

Peter’s climb to the summit Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania was interrupted when his health delayed the final assent. His family intends to complete that adventure by personally delivering his cremated remains to that 19,341-foot peak.