May 12, 1936 – Jan. 18, 2010


James W. Butler of Waukesha died Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, at Waukesha Memorial Hospital at the age of 73. He was born in Milwaukee on May 12, 1936, the son of William and Mary (nee Marovchik) Butler.

James was a 1954 graduate of Catholic Memorial High School and received his bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He went on to receive his master’s degree in school administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. On June 14, 1958, he married Angeleene "Angie" Marone at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. James was the principal of Lannon Elementary School for 19 years and at Edgewood Elementary School in Oak Creek for 19 years. He was a member of the Phi Delta Kappa fraternity at UW-Milwaukee, School Masters of Southeastern Wisconsin, was Child Advocate of the Year for the Parents Place, was a director on the board of Cooperating Churches of Greater Waukesha (now Hope House) and a director on the board of A Hand to Hold. James was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church for more than 50 years, where he served on the St. Mary’s School Board, was on the parish council and taught religious education. He enjoyed traveling and loved sports. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Angie of Waukesha; his children, Michelle (Brad) Whitney of Pueblo, Colo., Mary Jo (John) Levene of New Berlin and Jim (Ann) Butler of Gurnee, Ill.; and four grandchildren, Sarah and Grant Whitney and Katie and Joe Levene. He is further survived by his brother, Richard "Dick" Butler of Waukesha, along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, William, and mother and stepfather Mary and Hilbert Lenhardt.

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. until the 7 p.m. vigil service Sunday, Jan. 24, at Randle-Dable Funeral Home, 1110 S. Grand Ave., Waukesha. Visitation continues from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral Mass on Monday, Jan. 25, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 225 S. Hartwell Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186. Entombment will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are appreciated to Arrupe Jesuit High School, 4343 Utica St., Denver, CO 80212; the Southeastern Wisconsin Alzheimers/Dementia Association, 620 S. 76th St., Suite 160, Milwaukee, WI 53214; Art Links, 333 W. Main St., Waukesha, WI 53186; or St. Mary’s Catholic Church (address above).

For further information, please call Randle-Dable Funeral, Cremation and Preplanning Services at 547-4035 or go to www.waukeshafunerals.com for directions or to leave an online tribute.