- Date Of Birth: March 1, 1926
- Date Of Death: April 9, 2022
- State: Florida
Celebrating A Life Well Lived
Elinor Marie Butz
March 1, 1926 – April 9, 2022
Elinor “Ellie” Butz lived out her 96 years to the absolute fullest with an undeniable zest for life. She was energetic and stylish until the end, often wearing bright colored clothes and earrings that matched her sunny, happy personality. She loved playing cards and backgammon, dancing, animals, candy bars and being around friends and family.
Ellie was born on March 1, 1926 in Chisholm, Minnesota, the sixth of seven children of John and Barbara Sachen, two European immigrants who settled in northern Minnesota for work in the iron mines. As a child, Ellie loved artwork and sports, especially figure skating. She continued that passion in later years by making backyard ice skating rinks for her own children in Wisconsin. Even as an adult, Ellie could pirouette on ice to the point that her face was a blur.
After graduating from high school, Ellie and her sister Pat moved to Milwaukee to find work and experience the world. They hung out near Marquette University where the student body at the time was predominantly male. Ellie met the love of her life, Francis Butz, at a lunch counter when Fran and his fraternity buddies introduced themselves. Fran commented later that Ellie seemed the more congenial and less “feisty” of the two sisters, which in his view made Ellie a better match. Ellie and Fran married in 1950 in Milwaukee and eventually had six children over a span of 17 years, born in several cities around Wisconsin. Ellie never worked outside the home, but took great pride in “the hardest job in the world” of raising children and caring for her family.
Ellie had a joyous 65 years of marriage to Fran (deceased in 2015).
Ellie’s greatest accomplishment was her family. She is survived by her six children, Susan Butz-Cook (Fred), David Butz (Terry), Connie Sillars (Alan), Daniel Butz, John Butz, and Patti Polster, along with 11 grandchildren: Jessica, Elizabeth, Josh, Jody, Tara, Kyle, Jennifer, Alex, Maiori, Tay and Lena; and 9 great-grandchildren: Clara, Jackson, Madison, Brooklynne, Savannah, Alix, Jax, Kai, and Micah.
A special thanks to the staff at Hospice of Health First and Mary Lou Robinson for making Ellie’s last days comfortable and peaceful.
