George Firmin Butala

George Firmin Butala, 89, formerly of Calumet, MI, fell asleep in the loving arms of his daughter, Marie, on Friday, March 13, 2026 at the Pete and Jelaine Horton Skilled Nursing Center at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay, WI.

He was born July 5, 1936 in Calumet, the son of Firmin Raymond Butala, and Eva Marie (Beauchamp) Butala. George grew up in Calumet where he attended high school. He went on to trade school in Detroit to serve his apprenticeship to become a lift truck mechanic.

George served with the United States Naval Reserves from January 3 1955 until his honorable discharge on January 2, 1963.

He initially worked in the mines the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in Calumet and belonged to the local United Steel Workers Union. In the late 1950s, he went to work as a lift truck mechanic for American Motors Corporation (which later became Chrysler) in Kenosha, WI. He retired from Chrysler in 1989.

He was united in marriage to Charlene Marie Trowl on June 9, 1956 in Lake Linden, MI. George was raised Catholic but joined Faith Lutheran Church in Calumet and continued and attended church there with Charlene.

He had passion for music and played the accordion, guitar, piano, and sang. George was known in Kenosha Co., WI as a music entertainer, playing a variety of music from rock and roll, country to polkas and waltzes with the band, Travel on Trio, and later with the Jolly Nights. After retirement, he was known in Keewanaw and Houghton Co., MI for his musical entertainment as "Polka King".

He enjoyed spending time on the golf course and at the local bowling alley, playing leagues in Calumet. George was a member of the South Range Eagles Aerie 1122. His favorite activities weren't all land-based. George enjoyed flying through the clouds, upon earning his private pilot license in the 1970s.

He and Charlene were blessed with two children (George and Marie) and shared over 50 years of marriage. She preceded George in death on October 19, 2006.

He married Marlene Mary Fretter on August 7, 2020. They resided in Calumet until February of 2025 when George moved to Sturgeon Bay, WI where his daughter was living and became a resident of the Pete and Jelaine Skilled Nursing Center. Marlene followed shortly after, and they were able to reside at the SNF together.

George was a kind and gentle soul and had a modest and humble heart.

George will be missed by his wife, Marlene; two children, George Butala of Calumet, MI and Marie Peterson of the Town of Sevastopol, WI; three grandchildren, Sarah Butala and Heather (fiancé, Steve Pelto) Butala, and Joseph (Megan) Peterson; great-grandchildren, Sophia, Amelia, Hazel, and Whalen Pelto, and Vincent Peterson; Marlene's children, Kevin (Alice) Clairmont of Eau Claire, Renee (Dean) Chapman of Calumet, MI and Winter Haven, FL, and Craig Clairmont of the Town of Sevastopol, Wi; Marlene's grandchildren; other relatives; and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife; son-in-law, Rick Peterson; siblings, Lucille (Roderic) Wilmers, Raymond (Beatrice; Ann) Butala, Margaret (William Darnell; Wilmer Wilmers) Wilmers, Nancy (Felicia) Butala, and Joseph Butala.

George's life will be honored with a memorial service on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Calumet. He will be laid to rest with Military Honors in Lake View Cemetery in Calumet beside his first wife, Charlene.

The schedule of the visitation and memorial service will be announced in the near future.

Memorials may be given in George's name for the Door County Medical Center Auxiliary (c/o Door County Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 230, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; www.dcmedical.org/giving-and-volunteering); and the South Range Eagles Club Aerie 1122 (8 Baltic Avenue, MAIL TO: P.O. Box 66, South Range, MI 49963; 906-523-5096).

"Heartfelt thanks goes out to the staffs of UP Health-Portage Hospital/Upper Great Lakes clinic providers of Houghton Co., MI, Aspirus Hospital and Aspirus At-Home in Calumet for the medical care he received while living in the UP as well as to the staff of the Skilled Nursing Center in Sturgeon Bay, WI, and Unity Hospice for the personable, professional, and compassionate care you provided."

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay, WI and Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet, MI are caring for George and his family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of George may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.

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