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William ‘Bill’ Edwin Butenschoen, 81

William “Bill” E. Butenschoen died on Oct. 22, 2022. He was born Sept. 15, 1941, to Esther Hughes in Jefferson Park, Ill. 

He married Joan Augustine on Sept. 8, 1962. Bill worked for AB Dick & Co. in Park Ridge for many years, and then he worked for Lemke Machinery in Woodstock before retiring. He was a skilled machinist.

Bill and Joan moved their growing family to a small 5-acre farmette in Woodstock in 1978 from Hoffman Estates. He truly enjoyed all the aspects of owning land, including raising animals, having large bonfires, and mowing the acreage on his zero-turn mower. Anyone dropping brush off to be burned could find him enjoying the outdoors with one of the numerous large dogs he owned throughout the years, and everyone stopping by was offered a beer and some conversation. He spent many years taking trips on his motorcycle with his son and friends, traveling from coast to coast. He enjoyed vacationing with his children and grandchildren in northern Wisconsin, and the trips he and Joan made to Maine and other states. He was a longtime member of the Independent Riders.

He is survived by his wife, Joan; his children, Cathy (Tim) Buhrow, Cully (Kerrie) Butenschoen, Eric Butenschoen, and Jason Butenschoen; his grandchildren, Matthew (Cait) and Andrew (Kelsy) Buhrow, Gunnar (Lauren), Gretchen and Gavin (Bobbi Prehn) Butenschoen, Brennon and Allison Butenschoen, and Kamryn Butenschoen; his two soon-to-be-born great-grandchildren; his sister, Ardis Ash; his half-sister, Debra Hughes; his sisters-in-law, Nancy (Rich) Plahutnik, Aileen (Don) Henderlight, and Linda (Charlie) Califf; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother; his brother, Jack; his stepfather, Ralph Hughes; his brother-in-law, Thomas Ash; and a sister-in-law, Jean Flynn.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be planned for a later date. Arrangements made by Schneider-Leucht-Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home, Woodstock.

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