Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Bernard Butkiewicz Obituary
He was born June 18, 1954, in Danville, a son of Genevieve Butkiewicz and the late Bernard A. Butkiewicz, of Mount Carmel.
He graduated from Mount Carmel Area High School before attending the University of Pennsylvania. There he graduated summa cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Pennsylvania State University, Hershey Medical School, and did his residency in radiology at The University of Pittsburgh.
Bernard was the husband of Dr. Barbara Heere for 34 years.
He was a radiologist at several hospitals in Lycoming and Union counties for 23 years before retiring in 2007.
A diplomate of the American Board of Radiology, he was also a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Lycoming Medical Society.
Bernie was known for his generosity and quick wit. He loved to travel with his family. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved fishing and hiking with his dog, Bones, along Pine Creek. He was also an amazing wood and stained glass crafter. He built several wooden boats by hand and renovated the entire inside of his Pine Creek cabin. There was very little carpentry, plumbing or electrical problems he could not handle.
Surviving, besides his wife and mother, are his sons, Thomas J. Butkiewicz, of Nottingham, N.H., and Michael A. Butkiewicz, of Sunnyvale, Calif.; two sisters, Elaine (Alan Ruof) Butkiewicz, of Alexandria, Va., and Marie (Joe) Gallo, of Lancaster; and a niece, Miah Gallo.
/// ///
BUTKIEWICZ — Bernard L. "Bernie" or "Butchie" Butkiewicz, M.D., 60, of Loyalsock. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Crouse Funeral Home, 133 E. Third St., Williamsport. Burial will be in Newell Cemetery, Stanton, N.J. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Donations can be made in his name to The Huntington's Disease Society of America or through HDSA.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Bernard Butkiewicz
January 3, 2015
I knew Butch through my brother, Walt. Butch truly was a friendly, open human being. My brother wrote a column about Butch for the local newspaper but my clearest memory of Butch was his extraordinary work ethic while he studies at Penn. I attended 2 years after he started and despite many invites to join us for beers, Butch usually stayed in his dorm room working feverously on class work. I'm not at all surprised at his many achievements and medical degree. I would've liked to see him one more time.
I hope you enjoy my brother's memories of Butch below.
By Walt Kozlowski:
On Monday, I offered the 8 a.m. Mass I attended for the intention of Dr. Bernard L. Butkiewicz, who diedChristmas Day. Less than two hours later and more than 50 miles away, I attended the funeral service for one of my best friends from high school - "Butch" Butkiewicz.
To tell the truth, we had not kept in close contact when we went our separate ways in life in and after college. I was a groomsman when he married the love of his life, Dr. Barbra Heere, 34 years ago. I didn't see him again until - or since - he and his wife were present when I married the love of my life 23 years ago.
As the minister spoke about Dr. Butkiewicz, I thought about Butch. He was in a group of people I met in ninth grade when the graduates of parochial school came over to the public school. We got off to a rocky start, but it wasn't long before we were friends.
We spent the better part of the next two summers making trips up Locust Mountain south of town where we enjoyed the peace of the woods. We had to walk five or six blocks to where the town ended and the woods began. It was still at least a half-mile to the place where we eventually built a shack. (Actually, Butch had the skills to build it. I just stayed out of his way.)
We carried all the materials ourselves with one exception - a cast-iron "jonny stove." Butch's mom drove it in the family sedan up a fire road to the top of the mountain. We pretty much rolled the stove a third of a mile or more down to the shack.
The obituary for Dr. Butkiewicz told me the names of the sons I never had met, Thomas and Michael. It also told me Butch had never lost his love for the woods. An outdoorsman, he loved to hike and fish.
It indicated that he was no longer the apprentice shack builder; he was a master craftsman. An array of pictures at the funeral showed him with the impressive results of that mastery. Over countless hours, he patiently sawed, shaped and assembled hundreds of pieces of wood into boats. One of my favorite pictures was of him serenely rowing his Viking-style boat across a lake that reflected the colors of autumn.
So what was my prayer for my old friend whose brilliance earned him highest honors at the University of Pennsylvania and who became a radiologist?
Now that his long final illness was over, I hoped that Dr. Butkiewicz was able to see how all the pieces of his life fit together just as his boats did for smooth spiritual sailing.
I also prayed that Butch had been able to climb his last mountain to eternal peace.
I am sure that he did.
Joann Poston ( Kulbickas)
December 28, 2014
Dear Aunt Jenny, Elaine, Marie, Barbara and family
I am so sorry for the loss of Butchie but know he is resting in the Arms of Jesus. As Diane wrote, I have the same fond memories of Mt. Carmel and playing as kids with Butchie & my brother Joe
All of my love and thoughts & prayers are with you all today and always
Cousin Joann-- and Aunt Dottie
December 27, 2014
So sorry for the loss of my cousin Butchie, he was the nicest guy you could ever meet so kind hearted and generous. I will always remember our times together as kids, when we played on the coal banks and the town park cannon. Butchie touched the hearts of many people and he will be missed greatly.
Cousin Diane
John Becker
December 27, 2014
Barb - Donna and I extend our deepest sympathy to you and all of Bernie's family. We are away this week, but Bernie is in our thoughts and prayers. We pray that his body rest in peace, but his spirit live on - God bless
Anthony Butkiewicz
December 27, 2014
I'm so sorry for your loss Aunt Ginny, Elaine and Marie I know what your going thru. God Bless you all.
Launa Klimowicz
December 27, 2014
Rest in Peace Butchie
Robert Perles
December 27, 2014
My sympathy to Ginny, Barbara and her femily in their lost. To Ginny my wifes best friend and myself im so sorry
Marie Dimm
December 27, 2014
Dearest Aunt Ginny, Barbara and Family, We send our deepest sympathy and prayers for your family on your loss. Marie (Butkiewicz) and Lamar Dimm
Showing 1 - 8 of 8 results
Make a Donation
in Bernard Butkiewicz's name
Memorial Events
for Bernard Butkiewicz
Funeral services provided by:
Crouse Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc.133 East Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701
How to support Bernard's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Bernard Butkiewicz's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
