George Lyle Persons

George Lyle (Butch) Persons, age 81, passed away Saturday, March 22, 2025, in the home he lived in and cherished for the past 47 years. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 18 years, Carol Persons; parents George W. Persons and Rena and Norm Kappe; sister, Dawn Persons; and his beloved granddaughter, Sophia Bentley. He is survived by his children Kathy (Jim) Ringnalda, Tom (Denise) Persons, and Robin (Tom) Bentley; stepchildren Michele (Leo) Perez and Barb (Joe) Keller; grandchildren Danny (Erika) Brown, Andria (Dan) Lynema, Kaylee (Katie) Peterson, Spencer (Danica) Persons, Megan (Molly Ketchum) Persons, Olivia (Johnson Nguyen) Bentley, Ciara, Elena, and Dante Perez, Taylor (Devin) Snowden, and Jak and Jenna Keller; great-grandchildren DaniLynn, Macy, and Josie Brown, Vera, Beau, Olive, and Wit Lynema, Henry Peterson, Hayden Persons, and Chance Hammingh. Also surviving are his siblings Lorene Veurink, Mike (Jodi) Persons, Pat (Barb) Persons, and Mark (Cindy) Kappe.

Butch retired from General Motors after more than 30 years working as a carpenter where no two days were alike. Throughout those years, he made lifelong friends with whom he hunted, fished, played softball, and golfed. For many years, he and his wife, Carol, enjoyed boating on Lake Michigan as well as spending weekends with dear friends at their trailer in Ferrysburg on Spring Lake. This never kept him from maintaining the most magnificent garden each summer where he would grow delicious vegetables for the sole purpose of giving them to others to enjoy. He took great pride in his garden along with all other aspects of his beautiful property. He kept his grass meticulously mowed and watered, planted flowers, and cared for the fish in his pond. From the perspective of a grandchild, Grandpa's was the perfect place to pick raspberries, harvest vegetables, feed the fish, ride the quad, explore on the golf cart, hunt for treasures in the barn, walk through the fields, gather for a party, or just go for a visit.

In more recent years, his winters were spent in Florida where, again, he established valued friendships and enjoyed fishing and golfing with the guys. He also enjoyed using his unparalleled skills to help maintain things around the community. If there was something to be fixed or a job to be done, he was there to help. The man could literally build, fix, grow, create, maintain, or improve anything. There was nothing he couldn't do...all talents that helped lay the foundation for his son, Tom. They weren't likely to get to the end result the exact same way, but you could be sure they would each do it with the highest quality. (And the greatest devotion!)

A gathering to celebrate Butch's life will be held at his home from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, June 8, 2025. Please join us to honor him and share memories at 3410 92nd Street SW, Byron Center, MI 49315. The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresbyron.com in their guestbook online.

If you wish to express your sympathy, donations in Butch's memory may be made to the Sophia Bentley Memorial Endowed Scholarship at Davenport University; donations are accepted online (https://sophia-bentley-memorial-scholarship.raiselysite.com) or via U.S. mail (6191 Kraft Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512).