Joseph Butera Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Joseph Butera, 97, of Benton Harbor, passed away Thursday, January 15, 2015 at Park Place Assisted Living in Kalamazoo. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, February 7, 2015, at the Fairplain Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Benton Harbor with Father Bill Jacobs officiating. Following the service he will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Watervliet. Friends may call on Friday, Feb 6, from 6:00 to 8:00PM, at Fairplain Chapel in Benton Harbor. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association. Please share memories, messages or photos at www.florin.net. Joe was born May 30, 1917 in Coloma to Anthony and Mary Butera. He met his wife, Helen, in Coloma while she was vacationing with her parents from Chicago. They married April 21, 1945 in Chicago. They celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 1995 and had been married 58 yrs before her death in 2003. Joe was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Benton Harbor. He worked at Mammina’s Bar for his Uncle Tony for 38 yrs. He “pumped out” over a million of the best burgers in town while working there. He was a member of the “Sons of Italy Lodge #2636” and the “Knights of Columbus”. He was an avid bowler every Thursday night for Hicks Sign Company in his earlier years and took up golfing, after he retired, at 70. Joe was known by many people and would give them the shirt off his back if they needed it. He loved his life, family and friends and he will be missed dearly. He is survived by his son, Dennis Butera, of Kalamazoo; his daughter, Linda Butera, of St. Joseph; his sister, Theresa Kolenko, of Watervliet; his 2 grandchildren, Aaron Davis of Wauwatosa, WI and Amy (Nathan) Koffler of Portage, MI; his great granddaughter, Hannah Koffler, and his great grandson, Sam Koffler, of Portage, MI; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

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Joseph Butera

May 30, 1917 - January 15, 2015