Patricia Louise Butcher

MADISON-Patricia L. “Pat” Butcher, age 87, of Madison, passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side, on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at Agrace HospiceCare, after a short but courageous battle with cancer.  She was born on Oct. 12, 1930, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Otto and Pearl (Delp) Sobek. Pat graduated from Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Ill. in 1948.  That same year her family moved to Wisconsin and she worked on her parent’s dairy farm, as well as at the feed mill her parents owned in Muscoda, Wis.  Later, Pat moved to Madison where she worked with her sister, Joan for Farmer's Mutual Insurance. From 1958-1968, she worked at American Breeders Service in DeForest as the private secretary of the Director of Research and Laboratories.   Pat married Donald Butcher on April 29, 1967, at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison.   In 1968, she took a break from the workforce to stay home to raise her family. Her daughter, Stacey was born in December of 1968, and her daughter, Darcey was born in December of 1971.  In 1986, she joined the Helen Ballweg Company and remained with them until her retirement in 1994.  Pat was a long-time member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for over 50 years.  She loved to bowl and was on a weekly bowling league for over 40 years.  Pat was a sports fanatic she played and excelled at every sport that was available to girls in high school and was voted "most athletic" her senior year.  She was a passionate Badger basketball and football fan.  Pat was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother and especially enjoyed spending time with her family.  After her husband passed away in 1994, she poured all of her love and devotion into her daughters, grandchildren, sons-in-law and extended family members.  Pat is survived by her daughters, Stacey (Thomas) Shorter and Darcey (Mark) Becker; six grandchildren, Allison, Courtney, Lauren, and Steven Shorter, and Mitchell and Deanna Becker; sister, Joan Butcher; niece, Rebecca; and five nephews, James, Brian, David, Matthew, and Jacob.  In addition to her husband, Donald, she was preceded in death by her parents; brother and sister-in-law, John (Roxann) Sobek; brother-in-law, Douglas Butcher; niece, Deborah; and great-niece, Amanda. Funeral services will be held at GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH, 5701 Raymond Rd., Madison, at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday May 31, 2018, with the Rev. Sheryl Erickson presiding, with luncheon to immediately follow at the church. Burial will follow the luncheon at the Muscoda Cemetery in Muscoda, Wis. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Thursday. Because of the wonderful support and loving care of Independent Living Inc., Agrace HospiceCare and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the family wishes for memorials in Pat’s name be given to one of these organizations in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.  Gunderson Fitchburg Funeral & Cremation Care 2950 Chapel Valley Rd 608-442-5002