Mark Anthony Butzer

Mark Anthony Butzer was born on April 10, 1930, the fourth of twelve children to Dr. John A. and Frances Rock Butzer in Mankato Minnesota. His mother called him “the perfect child” and told stories of him, highlighting his sunny, happy nature. He finished high school in Mankato and went on to Mankato State College for a year. He went to North Dakota State Agricultural College in Fargo and got his degree in pharmacy. After a short stint in the military, he decided to go back for his PhD in Pharmacology. While teaching medical students pharmacology at University of Minnesota he realized that a medical career would be a better fit for him.

It was at St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota while getting prerequisites for med school that he met his lifetime love Karen Mae Chapman on the college bowling team. After a year apart (and almost daily letters!) Karen graduated and within the week they were married. While in medical school at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, children Kevin, Michelle and Renee were born. After graduation in 1961, they moved to San Diego, California for his internship and then on to Los Angeles for pediatric residency at LA Children’s Hospital. During that time Suzanne was born. In 1964, Mark and Karen moved to Portland and he joined Kaiser Permanente. Son Timothy arrived that year as well. Mark was a dedicated pediatrician at Kaiser for 26 years, caring for children at the Kaiser Vancouver Clinic and Bess Kaiser Hospital. During those years Peter, Joanie and Fred were added to the family.

Mark loved to travel and in 1974 he took the entire family on sabbatical to experience living in Spain for the year. Other years included many road trips to California and Minnesota, often camping and visiting National Parks along the way. He later took a second sabbatical to Australia! He was an avid reader, tennis player, wine drinker, fisherman and a gardener of the yard on Cumberland Rd that we affectionately called “the jungle.” In retirement, he and Karen played even more tennis at the Irvington Club and made many trips to Europe including bike trips with Elderhostel. For quite a few years he and Karen spent winter months in Green Valley, Arizona.

Mark was a loving, devoted husband. He was an involved and supportive father and a well-loved grandfather to fourteen grandchildren. Dad was always there to listen and rarely gave advice.

He was exceptionally accepting and non-judgmental and the consummate optimist. We will miss him greatly.

Preceding Mark in death is his mother and father, Frances and John Butzer; brothers Jack and Matt Butzer; and sister Judy Small.

Mark is survived by his wife, Karen Butzer; siblings, Paul, Karl, Mary, Sue Henning, Luke, Steve, Gretchen Jewison and Tom; children Kevin, Michelle Ruby (Marshall), Renee Rahn (Greg), Suzie MacKinnon (John), Tim (Martha Pelster), Peter (Bonnie), Joanie Gibbs (Mike) and Fred (Adrienne); grandchildren Julia Ruby, Bennett, Wilson and Garrett Rahn, Lydia, Emily and Jack MacKinnon, Sally and Rory Butzer, Mackenzie, Audrey and Rock Gibbs, Peter Mark Butzer and Solomon Butzer.