Samuel L. Butler

Samuel L. "Sam" Butler, 75, of Dowagiac, Michigan, passed away on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Center for Hospice Care, Esther's House, in Elkhart, Indiana.

He was born on July 9, 1950, to the late James and Patricia (Kirchner) Butler.

Sam is survived by his loving wife, Brenda Butler; sons, Sam (Cathy) Butler and Steven Allen Butler; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and siblings, Dave (Mary) Butler, Susan "Sue" (Ben) Freeze and Sherri (Neil) Stewart.

Visitation will take place Wednesday, March 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St. in Elkhart, with a service to follow at 1 p.m. officiated by Pastor Jeremy Sarber. Samuel will be laid to rest immediately following the service at Crane Cemetery in Dowagiac, Michigan, where military honors will be rendered by the United States Marines.

Sam served proudly in the military as a United States Marine where he received two Purple Hearts during the Vietnam War. He married the love of his life, Brenda Ellsworth, in 1970 and they enjoyed 56 years of marriage but knew each other for 59 years. Sam would go on to have a career with Conrail (later known as Norfolk Southern) for 41 years. He would create Butler's Tree Farm, which he proudly built from the ground up with his family.

Sam loved to be outside and, in his spare time, he enjoyed fishing with his family out on the pontoon boat and going morel hunting with them around Mother's Day. He was a proud member of the local VFW, DAV, American Legion, and Purple Heart Association. Sam enjoyed riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles where his wife would often join him as his riding partner. He was a member of several motorcycle clubs and taught Bible study classes at the AWANA Children's Church. Sam will be dearly missed by his loving family, his community, and by his many friends.