1940
French
2015
French Nickol Butcher
December 31, 1940 — January 10, 2015
French N. “Nick” Butcher
The Angels have just welcomed home an amazing man. French “Nick” Butcher passed away peacefully at his home in Freedom Township after a long, brave battle with Parkinson’s disease, surrounded by his loving family on January 10, 2015, to join his beloved wife Alma in Heaven.
Nick was born in Weston, West Virginia on December 31, 1940 to Reva C. Butcher and French N. Butcher Sr. (deceased). He moved with his family to the Kent area at age 4 and later resided in Brady Lake. He graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent in 1959, where he excelled at every sport. Nick was inducted into his high school’s hall of fame in 2007, being a member of their 1957 championship basketball team. In 1960, Nick married the love of his life, Alma (Krebs) Butcher. Together they had 5 children: DeAnna (Rick) Curtner of Mantua; Thomas (Nancy) Butcher of Ravenna; Claudia (Kevin) Franko of Deerfield; Jennifer Wampler of Windham; and Kelly Ann Butcher (deceased). Nick also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren: Justin Franko, Melinda Wampler, Kimberly Wampler, John Butcher, Jared Butcher, Scott Butcher, Christopher Franko, Clara Butcher, Mallory Butcher and his great-granddaughter, Kyleigh Franko. He will be missed by his brother, Michael C. Butcher of Kent and sisters in law Allison Butcher of Kent and Kathleen Butcher of Ponce de Leon, Florida. Nick’s brothers Donald L. Butcher and Vaughn E. Butcher, his sister, Sandra C. Butcher, and his father in law and mother in law, Herman and Dovie Krebs, preceded him in death. Nick retired from Chrysler Corporation Twinsburg Stamping Plant in 2000 after nearly 40 years of service. As a very proud member of the UAW Union Local 122, he served as Chief Steward of 3rd shift, often fighting for worker’s rights and safety in the work place. Nick was a gifted athlete who strove for excellence in every sport he enjoyed. As an avid bowler and below par golfer his entire life, Nick won countless tournaments and championship titles, and held county records. His name can be found listed with his fellow teammates and mentors in the Portage County Bowling Hall of Fame, the Portage County All Sports Hall of Fame, and The Tri-County Bowling Hall of Fame, where he served as a board member for many years. In his later years, he and his wife Alma loved going on fun bowling trips with their dear friends, with whom he bowled in the Senior All Star Traveling League.
By far, Nick’s greatest gift to many young people was the time he spent as a coach, mentor, and friend. Nick coached his son Thom’s Freedom Hotstove Baseball team for 6 years and was the assistant baseball coach at James A. Garfield High School for 2 years. He also coached for Ravenna Hot Stove Baseball for four years altogether. Nick mentored numerous area bowlers and golfers, and was the beloved leader of The Moose Divers. Nick was affectionately known as “Poppy” by his grandchildren, and they meant everything to him. He loved attending their numerous sporting and scholastic events and was so very proud of all of them. The kids hung out with him often to help make his signature pizza and hot pepper sauce, and had a lot of fun helping him cheer on his favorite sports teams and watching his favorite John Wayne movies. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Cross Roads Hospice for helping us lovingly care for our father and for always being there for us. Services will be held at Shorts, Spicer and Crislip Funeral Home. Calling hours will be held Friday January 16 from 5 pm to 8 pm, and on Saturday January 17 from 12 pm to 2 pm, with services to begin promptly at 2 pm. Chaplain Lori Pugh will be officiating.
The Angels have just welcomed home an amazing man. French “Nick” Butcher passed away peacefully at his home in Freedom Township after a long, brave battle with Parkinson’s disease, surrounded by his loving family on January 10, 2015, to join his beloved wife Alma in Heaven.
Nick was born in Weston, West Virginia on December 31, 1940 to Reva C. Butcher and French N. Butcher Sr. (deceased). He moved with his family to the Kent area at age 4 and later resided in Brady Lake. He graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent in 1959, where he excelled at every sport. Nick was inducted into his high school’s hall of fame in 2007, being a member of their 1957 championship basketball team. In 1960, Nick married the love of his life, Alma (Krebs) Butcher. Together they had 5 children: DeAnna (Rick) Curtner of Mantua; Thomas (Nancy) Butcher of Ravenna; Claudia (Kevin) Franko of Deerfield; Jennifer Wampler of Windham; and Kelly Ann Butcher (deceased). Nick also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren: Justin Franko, Melinda Wampler, Kimberly Wampler, John Butcher, Jared Butcher, Scott Butcher, Christopher Franko, Clara Butcher, Mallory Butcher and his great-granddaughter, Kyleigh Franko. He will be missed by his brother, Michael C. Butcher of Kent and sisters in law Allison Butcher of Kent and Kathleen Butcher of Ponce de Leon, Florida. Nick’s brothers Donald L. Butcher and Vaughn E. Butcher, his sister, Sandra C. Butcher, and his father in law and mother in law, Herman and Dovie Krebs, preceded him in death. Nick retired from Chrysler Corporation Twinsburg Stamping Plant in 2000 after nearly 40 years of service. As a very proud member of the UAW Union Local 122, he served as Chief Steward of 3rd shift, often fighting for worker’s rights and safety in the work place. Nick was a gifted athlete who strove for excellence in every sport he enjoyed. As an avid bowler and below par golfer his entire life, Nick won countless tournaments and championship titles, and held county records. His name can be found listed with his fellow teammates and mentors in the Portage County Bowling Hall of Fame, the Portage County All Sports Hall of Fame, and The Tri-County Bowling Hall of Fame, where he served as a board member for many years. In his later years, he and his wife Alma loved going on fun bowling trips with their dear friends, with whom he bowled in the Senior All Star Traveling League.
By far, Nick’s greatest gift to many young people was the time he spent as a coach, mentor, and friend. Nick coached his son Thom’s Freedom Hotstove Baseball team for 6 years and was the assistant baseball coach at James A. Garfield High School for 2 years. He also coached for Ravenna Hot Stove Baseball for four years altogether. Nick mentored numerous area bowlers and golfers, and was the beloved leader of The Moose Divers. Nick was affectionately known as “Poppy” by his grandchildren, and they meant everything to him. He loved attending their numerous sporting and scholastic events and was so very proud of all of them. The kids hung out with him often to help make his signature pizza and hot pepper sauce, and had a lot of fun helping him cheer on his favorite sports teams and watching his favorite John Wayne movies. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Cross Roads Hospice for helping us lovingly care for our father and for always being there for us. Services will be held at Shorts, Spicer and Crislip Funeral Home. Calling hours will be held Friday January 16 from 5 pm to 8 pm, and on Saturday January 17 from 12 pm to 2 pm, with services to begin promptly at 2 pm. Chaplain Lori Pugh will be officiating.
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