Irwin "Butch" Rehm

1943 - 2025

On November 19, 2025, Irwin "Butch" Rehm, Jr., loving husband and father, died at the age of 82 in Manchester, NH.

Butch was born on September 4, 1943 in Lancaster, PA to Irwin and Mildred (Posey) Rehm. On September 12, 1964, he married Barbara Wood. He earned his undergraduate degree in biology from Pennsylvania State University in 1966 and his masters degree in teaching from the University of Mississippi in 1971. After moving to Lake George, NY to teach, his career as an educator spanned 34 years, first as a biology teacher at Glens Falls High School, then as science faculty, culminating as interim academic dean and then assistant dean at Adirondack Community College. Together, he and Barb raised three children, Greg, Heidi, and Rebecca.

Butch was passionate about education and the environment, fueling enthusiasm in others through his engaging teaching style, which sometimes included having students ride their bikes to school early so he could bring them in his dump truck to ponds for research. His many accomplishments included Glens Falls High School Teacher of the Year (1992), director of the Tri-School Consortium (1987-1998), and Lake George Central School District Board of Education member and, later, president (1986-1996) where his three kids attended. He also received the President's Award, Teacher of the Year Award, and Chancellor's Award for teaching from Adirondack Community College (now SUNY Adirondack).

Being mechanically inclined at a young age, he worked at a VW repair shop during college and was often found repairing his cars and even heard swearing when things weren't going well. He was often on his backhoe helping neighbors with projects, which earned him the nickname, "Butchie Backhoe". When he wasn't teaching or working on the house, he liked to read novels, including The Monkey Wrench Gang by one of his favorite authors, Edward Abbey, giving him another nickname, "Hayduke". He was a friend to many and valued meaningful connection and deep conversation with others, especially with his two best friends, Dick Stineman and Chip Limbrick, loyal friends with whom he took annual trips for almost 50 years.

He also loved running, then cycling, as well as folk music, his favorite artist being Emmylou Harris. A typical weekend morning might have him making "Daddy McMuffins" for the family where he folded the cheese just so, then sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper and watching birds at his feeders. In his later years, he loved fishing on his boat.

Butch, along with Barb, was a loving and devoted parent and grandparent, attending every sports game, performance, and awards ceremony for each of their kids, and hosting weddings or rehearsal dinners for them. He and Barb were always there for their grandchildren and hosted and cared for them countless times. Butch instilled in his kids the importance of hard work, perseverance, and integrity.

Butch was preceded in death by his father, Irv, and his mother, Mick. He is survived by his wife, Barb, his three children and children-in-law, Greg and Annie Rehm of Bedford, NH, Heidi Rehm and Stefan Wawersik of Medford, MA, and Rebecca Rehm and Judi Burgess of Harvard, MA. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Ana, Marley, Kate, Eli, Beau, Tatum, and Fifer, in addition to his sister Roberta "Bobbi" Miller and 11 nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be planned in the coming months. Donations in Butch's memory may be made to one of his favorite organizations - Crandall Public Library or Sierra Club.