Gary J. Buttikofer

Gary J. Buttikofer, 67, of Loves Park, died after a short illness on Saturday, February 7, 2015 in his home. He was born on June 7, 1947 in Dubuque, Iowa the son Fred and Lillian (Pennington) Buttikofer. Graduated high school in Potosi WI, where he played football and baseball pitching a no-hitter. He joined the US Army serving in San Francisco during the Vietnam War and later graduated from District-1 Technical Institute. Married his loving wife, Barb Lennie on May 12, 1973 in Eau Claire, WI. For twenty years, Gary worked as an early forerunner in the large data storage industry. His career started as the Microfiche Operations Manager for EnData and culminated as the Branch Manager for First Image servicing the Greater Rockford area. Gary was an active volunteer at St. Anthony’s Hospital where he enjoyed greeting and talking to visitors at the front desk where he worked. He had a love of rock and roll music heightened while living in San Francisco during the early 70’s, where so many bands found their start. He partied with Santana, saw The Grateful Dead multiple times, and Jefferson Airplane which led him to become quite the expert with R & R trivia. He shared his passion of old time Rock and Roll every Saturday night with his sons, at first under protest, which eventually led to their love of music as well. He was just as passionate about sports with a lifelong commitment to the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Cubs and the Wisconsin Badgers. His favorite times were spent on the golf course with his sons.
Survivors include his wife, Barb; daughters-in-law, Beckie Buttikofer and Nicole Buttikofer -Bradford; grandson, Maddux Buttikofer; brothers, Jeff and Fred; sisters, Brenda Flaten, Diane Begeman and Pam Moore and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his two sons and best friends, Chris (2012) and Scott (2013) and sister, Linda.
All services will be private and the family was assisted by Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford chapel. Please direct all memorials to a local food pantry in Gary’s memory, as he was a firm believer that no one should be hungry.