Bernard Butler

Bernard Ray Butler peacefully passed away in his home on January 29, 2012 at the age of 85. He was a 60 year resident of Barrington, IL and known to many as Bernie.

Mr. Butler’s family first settled in Wayne City, IL as farmers. Their home, called the Ranch, was on the Skillet Fork River. A fire in the chicken coop spread to the home and the family lost everything in 1926. Bernard was born a few months later. Within a year farm work for the California Packing Corporation brought them to Rochelle, IL. Their first home was across the dredge ditch from the John’s farm. A year later they moved to the John’s farm and stayed there for seven years. They then moved to Atwood One. The Atwood’s owned many farms they leased to the canning company. Through the years all members of the Butler’s extended family worked for the California Packing Corporation. He had fond memories of when cousins would come to help with the harvest. From here his family moved to the Smith sister’s farm in Stillman Valley.  When Bernard graduated from Rochelle high school he enlisted in the Army Air Corp in 1944. He shared happy recollections of training in Biloxi, MS and on leave in New Orleans with his Air Corp buddies. He was stationed at Keesler Air Force Base where he was  trained as a mechanic to repair the Douglas A-26 Invader.  He was honorably discharged and attended the University of Illinois on the G.I. Bill. Mr. Butler graduated with honors majoring in floriculture and horticulture. He first worked for Mioux Florist & Greenhouse in Carlyle, IL where he met his future wife Joan.

Bernard was an intelligent man with keen interests in nature, science, and technology. He was an active nurturing father and a bit of a renaissance man. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. He had a passion for growing flowers and unusual plants.  He married Joan on Sept 1, 1951 and made her glamelia wedding bouquet from flowers grown in his mother’s garden.  After the wedding they moved to Barrington, IL. His family photos and movies contain as many photos of flowers as they do family members.  With his artistic abilities he was employed by Plagge’s Flowers as a top floral designer and manager for 19yrs, until 1969  when he purchased the historic John B. Hertz estate conservatory in Cary, IL and opened Bernie’s Trout Valley Greenhouse as a family run business. He decorated many Barrington estate homes for special occasions as well as the annual Fox Hunt Ball held at the Barrington Hills Country Club. He specialized and took great care in the design and creation of unique wedding flowers for each  couple’s special day.

Mr. Butler was a tall athletic man. During Barrington’s 1963 Centennial celebration Mr. Butler won the  Abraham Lincoln look-alike contest. He was soft spoken and always had a kind word for everyone. In later years he supported Joan when she opened her gift shop Flowers With Love in Evanston, IL

Bernard was preceded in death by his parents; Bertha Jane (Scott) and Wilson Walker Butler, and his older brother Morris Webster Butler.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years Joan Lucille (Schmitz), three children; Linda Novak, Rodney and Nancy L. (Thomas) Ryan; six grandchildren, Anthony Butler, Travis and Timothy Novak, Sean, Andrew and Kathrine Ryan.  He also leaves behind his oldest brother Harry Walker Butler,"" and cousin cinematographer Wilmer """"Bill"""" Cable Butler"", and many nieces, nephews and cousins. As per his wishes, there will be no calling hours or funeral services.

Donations may be made in his name to:

The Barrington Area Council on Aging. Serving seniors, family caregivers,and the community. http://www.bacoa.org/donate.htm

The Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund. http://www.dnr.state.il.us/orc/wpf/index.htm