Rose Marie Butler

Rose Marie Butler, 85, of Litchfield, passed away Mon., Feb. 18, 2019 at 9:53 p.m. in HSHS St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield.  Rose was born on May 21, 1933 in Litchfield, IL, a daughter of Ambrose Elmer & Kathryn Theresa “Katie” (Barry) Heise.  She graduated from Litchfield High School in 1952 and went on to pursue her nursing degree from St. John’s School of Nursing in Springfield.  She began her career as a Registered Nurse working for Dr. Nelson Floreth and Dr. Harry Yaeger.  From there she worked at St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield where she remained for the next 30 years.  She married Harold Eugene “Hoot” Ryan in 1957.  They divorced in 1974.  She later married Allen Patrick Butler in 1975. He preceded her in death on Sept. 30, 2016.  Rose was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Litchfield, Women of the Moose Chapter #581 & Litchfield Women’s Club.  She enjoyed doing crewel embroidery work, crossword puzzles and keeping up with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She is survived by:

4 sons, Kevin (Mary) Ryan of Girard; 

Sean (Jami) Ryan of Litchfield; 

Bernie Butler (companion, Christy) of Pekin  

Greg Butler of Chatham

5 daughters, Karen (Drew) Whitlock; 

Dee (Tom) Dowell, both of Gillespie; 

Mollie (Steve) Pigg; 

Cindy (Ron) Niehaus; 

Denise (Toby) Law; all of Litchfield

2 sisters, Mary Ellen Lobaito of Geneseo; 

Julia Heise of Litchfield

27 grandchildren

16 great-grandchildren

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Allen; 3 brothers, William, Patrick & Daniel Heise.

Mass of Christian Burial will be said Sat., Feb. 23, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Family Catholic Church in Litchfield. 

Fr. Dan Willenborg of Holy Family Catholic Church Church & Fr. Larry Anschutz, retired, of Blessed John Paul II Catholic Church in Mt. Olive, will preside.   

Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery in Litchfield. 

Visitation will be held Friday from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. in Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield.  The Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m.

The family suggests memorials to Holy Family Catholic Church or HSHS St. Francis Hospital Foundation (for Fr. Ted Schelich Colleague Emergency Assistance Fund). 

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.