Butler, George William “Billy” 1864 - 1929

BUTLER, SMITH, SLOANAKER, MYERS, THOMPSON

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/14/2023 at 15:13:31

G. W. BUTLER TAKES HIS OWN LIFE IN FIT OF MELANCHOLIA

Deed Was Committed Last Thursday—Was Resident of Nashua Many Years—Funeral Sunday
It was with genuine sorrow that the friends of “Billy” Butler heard that in a fit of melancholia due to ill health that he had taken his own life by hanging last Thursday in the woods near his home in Waterloo.
George William Butler, son of E. J. and Margaret Butler was born in New York state, October 13, 1864.
His mother passed while he was but a young boy, and the home being broken he drifted west, first locating in Illinois. Later he came to Nashua, Iowa. There he met Miss Hattie M. Smith, to whom he was married on August 30, 1893.
To this union were born four daughters: Mrs. Hazel Sloanaker of Wenatchee, Wash.; Mrs. Ruth Myers, Waterloo; Mrs. Lucille Thompson, Seattle, Wash., and Miss Bernice, who lives at home in Waterloo.
The Butlers made their home in Nashua until 1917, when they moved to Waterloo, where Mr. Butler entered the employ of the Northey manufacturing Co. Here he continued in service until his health failed. They then purchased a grocery store at 516 Riehl street, and there made their present home.
Mr. Butler died on June 25, 1928{?}, at the age of 64 years, 8 months and 12 days. Always of a most cheerful disposition the failing of health resulted in melancholia and in this condition he came to his tragic end.
He is survived by his widow and all the daughters, and three grandchildren: Evelyn May, Katherine Louise and Bobby Myers of Waterloo. Besides these, other friends are numbered by the hundreds, both in Waterloo and Nashua, all of whom are deeply grieved by his unexpected death.
Funeral services were held at 1:30 p. m., Sunday, June 20, in the Petersen Brothers’ mortuary chapel, Waterloo, conducted by the Rev. Thos. P. Shaffer, pastor of St. Paul’s Methodist church, who spoke kindly words of comfort from 1st Corinthinians 13:9, 10. Mr. Victor A Zellhoefer sang “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere,” and “The City Foursquare.” Fellow workmen from the Northey Company acted as pallbearers.
Surrounded by a profusion of beautiful floral pieces, the appreciative gifts of many friends, the remains were conveyed to Nashua for interment. At the grave a great number of Nashua friends had gathered and the burial services was conducted by Rev. E. E. Clements pastor of the Methodist church of Nashua.

Source Unknown – probably local newspaper

Transcriber’s Note: His gravestone in Greenwood Cemetery shows his year of death as 1929. Also Find a Grave shows a copy of the obituary and it also states he died in 1929.