Robert William Butler

WAMEGO- Robert W. Butler, 81, of Wamego, KS and formerly of Ulysses, KS, passed away December 5, 2007, at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan. He had been a resident of Wamego since 2005. Robert was born on February 14, 1926 in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Julian M. and Abigail (Crane) Butler. Following school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving on the destroyer DD653 USS Knapp from 1943 thru 1946, during WWII. He was decorated with seven ribbons and fifteen battle stars. After the war, he re-enlisted into the U.S. Navy Hospital School as an X-Ray Technician, and later was in the U.S. Naval Coast Guard until 1950. Following his military service, he attended the St. Joseph School of Nursing in Wichita, KS, and graduated in 1953 with a degree as a Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Robert married Virginia Hultgren on August 5, 1951 in Emporia, KS. She survives of the home. Robert worked for Abbott Laboratories as a Medical Services Representative for several years in the Topeka area, and moved to Ulysses, KS in 1964, were he and Virginia raised their family and he worked as a Nurse Anesthesiologist at hospitals in Ulysses, Johnson, and Lakin, KS, and also in Walsh and Springfield, CO. from 1963 until retirement in 1984. Robert also had obtained 3 U.S. Patents and had a 4th pending. He was a member of the American Legion and the U.S. Navy League. He enjoyed collecting and working with his model trains, 4-wheeling in mountains and chasing trains in Colorado. Survivors include his wife Virginia, of Wamego; four sons, Robert William Butler, Jr. and his wife Donna, of Ft. Collins, CO, Brian Butler, Wichita, KS, Wayne Butler of Olathe, KS, Bruce Butler and his wife Robin, of Wamego, KS; one daughter, Joyce Adams and her husband Rob, of Garden City, KS; one sister, Barbara Backer and husband Peter, Pompton Lakes, NJ; 10 grandchildren, Michael and Brett Kepley, Josh, Cass, Jared, Courtney, Kyle, Ashton, Colton and Trenton Butler; and two great-grandchildren, Damon and Alexandra. Graveside services with military honors will be Friday, December 14, at 1:00 p.m. at Fort Dodge Kansas Veterans Cemetery in Fort Dodge, Kansas. A visitation will be held Wednesday evening December 12, from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. at Stewart Funeral Home in Wamego. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Robert’s name to Miles of Smiles Therapeutic Riding Program of Garden City, and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home, P.O. Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.