Thomas Robert Butler

Thomas Robert Butler, age 83, of Hinsdale, IL, passed away peacefully at home on February 13, 2026. Thomas was the beloved husband of Carol Butler (nee Kriegbaum). They would have been married 60 years this coming June. He was a loving father to Thomas Butler Jr. (Erin), Michael Butler (Maureen), Katherine Lisoni, M.D. (Carlos), and James Butler (Clare). He cherished his grandchildren: Connor, Patrick, Mars, Victoria, Sofia, Elizabeth, Robert, and Grace. Thomas was a dear brother to Rosanne McGown (John), Daniel Butler (Linda), and the late David Butler. He was also an adoring uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Thomas valued hard work, self sacrifice, and loyalty; he always put others first. He enjoyed running, camping, fishing, golfing, skiing, playing his favorite songs on repeat and solving complex business problems, but his greatest joy was his family, friends, and neighbors.

Thomas, affectionately called "Tom," grew up in Milwaukee (and nearby Wauwatosa), Wisconsin where he attended St. Jude the Apostle Grade School. From a young age he worked at several different jobs, starting with rising early to deliver newspapers every morning for many years. He paid for his own education at Marquette High School where he ran cross country and track, and won the state mile his senior year. He enrolled at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana with a National Merit Scholarship, where he studied architecture, civil engineering, and ultimately graduated with a BA in English literature. At Notre Dame, he headed the committee that planned, built, and decorated for all the school dances. These were complex projects where he learned to lead others: one dance replicated an evening by the Seine in Paris, including street lights, a miniature Eiffel Tower, potted trees, and a 'river' with water running through the middle. He ran cross country his freshman year before leaving formal sports to focus on his studies, and participated in Army ROTC (to help pay for his tuition) where he decorated the military balls as well.

Upon graduating from Notre Dame, he enrolled in the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Business, where he met the love of his life, Carol, on a blind date. He received his MBA and while newly married with a son on the way was called up to serve in the Vietnam War where he served in both Saint Louis, Missouri and Pleiku, Vietnam as a Captain in the US Army Corps of Engineers. During his time in Vietnam he constructed roads which improved the local infrastructure and are still used today. In addition to leading his men in building roads and keeping them safe in a war without front lines, he found time early in the morning to teach one of his soldiers to read. Later on, in his business career, when he rose to executive positions he focused not only on the profits of the corporation, but on making sure that employees were well paid and shared in the company's success. He would refuse to take a privileged parking spot or fly business class, and with his work ethic he led by example. He worked into his mid 70s, and ran every morning until he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 79 and switched to walking.

As a father, Tom was involved in all of his children's activities, from coaching soccer, YMCA Indian Guides and Indian Princesses, and leading Boy Scouts. He especially enjoyed his trips backpacking at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, which he did with each of his sons even though his oldest and youngest are 20 years apart in age. He took all of his children, once they graduated from 8th grade, fishing in the Boundary Waters of Canada/Minnesota.

Tom's Roman Catholic Christian faith was deeply important to him. He always attended Mass on Sundays regardless of where he was in the world, on Holy Days of Obligation, and Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent. He prayed at bedtime with his children and before meals as a family, and at bedtime every day. He especially liked the Boy Scout Philmont prayer: For food, for raiment, for life, for opportunity, for friendship, and fellowship, we thank thee, oh, Lord. Amen. Mary, our Mother, was a central part of his faith not only because he attended the University of Notre Dame, but also because he recognized and would speak of her importance as a central part of Catholicism.

Modeled after his respect for Mary, he greatly valued the women in his life. He admired his grandmother Anna Butler who lived with them until he was 18. She worked as a professional seamstress and made all of their clothing. He would talk about how the Social Security program was important– allowing her to have a dignified retirement and occasionally take her grandchildren downtown on the streetcar to watch a movie and have a soda. He cherished his mother Rose (Stemper) Butler, and would be in tears as he described how she would say that she was not as smart as the rest of them since she had not graduated from college, when she was actually the smartest of them all. (When he was sick as a freshman in high school, she tutored him in algebra so he could catch up, and she was self taught on the earliest computers as part of her job at Sears.) He attributed his success to the support of his wife Carol, and frequently praised her wisdom of choosing a good place to live and starting early to save for their children's education even when they had little money to spare at the time. He was proud of his little sister Rosanne who is intelligent and a good athlete like her brothers. Later in life, he apologized to Rosanne for teasing her when she was a child. He was also very proud of his smart and accomplished daughters-in-law, and encouraged his own daughter, Katherine in sporting activities and to pursue her medical career. He would tell her growing up that the strongest man might be physically stronger than the strongest woman, but that it didn't mean she couldn't be stronger than a lot of others around her. He would always remind his children that they are unlikely to be the best or worst at anything, but that they should always be the best that they can be.

The motto of his company in the Army Corps of Engineers was "We pave the way." He has paved the way for all of us as a great role model in keeping the faith, in business, in family, in friendships and so much more. He was truly a servant leader. Consider us so blessed to have known him and to have a chance to follow.

Visitation

Friday, February 20th from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Sullivan Funeral Home, 60 South Grant Street, Hinsdale, IL.

Funeral Services

Saturday, February 21st 10:00 AM Visitation until time of Funeral Mass, 11:00 AM at St. Isaac Jogues Church, 306 West Fourth Street, Hinsdale, IL.

Interment will be held at Wauwatosa Cemetery, Wauwatosa, WI on Sunday, February 22nd at 2:00 PM.

Livestream

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Catholic Charities (https://www.catholiccharities.net/), Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation), and Little Warrior Foundation (https://www.littlewarrior.org/) are appreciated.

Arrangements by Sullivan Funeral Home Hinsdale. 630-323-0275 or www.sullivanfuneralhomehinsdale.com