MIDDLEBURY — Fish in lakes across Connecticut breathed a sigh of relief on Dec. 19, 2018 when John J. Butkus passed away due to complications from his nearly four-year struggle with lung cancer. He’d want everyone to know “it’s a wonderful life.”
Born in Waterbury and raised in Naugatuck, son of the late Donald and Helen (Patronik) Butkus, John graduated salutatorian from Kaynor Tech in 1972 and married the love of his life, Selinda Rubertas, later that year.
He enjoyed his muscle cars, hunting and golfing, loved fishing, and excelled at winning people over with his jokes and storytelling. It was his great gift of relatability that made him an affable and honest coworker and manager, through numerous sales and managerial positions in the manufacturing industry, most recently with Stimpson, Inc. He took pride in his lawn and appreciated an ice cold beer.
But as a kind and giving man, Johnny always put his large family first. “Strange isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?”
Memories of him fill holes in the hearts of his family: his wife, Selinda “Sindy;” his children, Sarah (husband J, and their children Jackson and Samantha) and Gregory (wife Sharla); his siblings, Don (Twana), Tom (Nicole), Jim (Debbie), Dave (Debbie), Ed (Karyn), Bob (Mary), Joe (Janet), Cheryl (Mike), Mike (Jenn) and Sue (Gary); plus 30 nieces and nephews, and 21 great-nieces and great-nephews, many of whom he helped catch their first fish.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Prince of Peace Parish at St. Teresa Church, 146 Main St. South, Woodbury. Those attending are asked to please meet at the church at 10:45 a.m. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Naugatuck Valley Memorial/Fitzgerald-Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main St., Naugatuck.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
To send an online condolence, visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.
