Burton "Butch" Wygant, 84, of Roanoke passed away Thursday morning on August 28, 2025 at Lutheran Hospital. Butch was born in Fort Wayne, IN on September 1,1940 to the late Laurell Edward and Gloria (Platt) Wygant. He graduated from Lafayette Central High School in 1958 and went on to earn a teaching degree from Huntington College and a master's degree from Saint Francis University. He taught science at Wolf Lake High School for 6 years and finished his 39-year teaching career at Homestead High School, where he spent time in the classroom and also as a guidance counselor. Outside of the classroom, his passion was coaching. He served as the head coach for the Wolf Lake basketball team, leading them to a Sectional Victory in 1967. He also coached baseball at Wolf Lake and was the assistant boys' basketball coach at Homestead for many years. Butch firmly believed in being involved in his community and spent many years volunteering as an Allen County 4-H leader, being a member of the Roanoke Kiwanis, and serving on the Board of Trustees for Ivy Tech College. He also was a member of Emmanuel Community Church. Butch was an avid fisherman and hunter with an extensive duck decoy collection. In addition to teaching, Butch farmed on his family farm for most of his life raising pigs, sheep and cattle. He was a huge Purdue basketball fan.
On November 25, 1959, he married his high school sweetheart, Elsie Fairchild. They built a wonderful and loving life together for almost 66 years.
Burton is survived by his wife Elsie, and their three children: a son, Lance (Ann) Wygant of Bluffton, a son, Brett (Karla) Wygant of Roanoke and a daughter, Sasha (Chris) Frazier of Kendallville. Additional survivors include a sister, Joy Sheets of Huntington, ten grandchildren: Madeline (Steven) Benefiel, Jordan Wygant, Frankie Tonner, Lukas Wygant, Alexis (Sal) Lombardo, Zane Wygant, Deandra (John) Wellman, Grace Frazier, Mikayla Frazier, Jacob Frazier and fourteen great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson Blaine Tonner.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, from 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm at the Myers Funeral Home Huntington Chapel, 2901 Guilford Street, Huntington IN 46750.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 11:00 am with one hour of visitation prior to the service at the Myers Funeral Home Huntington Chapel.
Interment will be at Glenwood Cemetery in Roanoke at a later date.
Memorial donations can be made to Cancer Services of NE Indiana or The Roanoke Volunteer Fire Department, both in care of Myers Funeral Home, 2901 Guilford Street, Huntington IN 46750.
To sign Butch's online guest registry visit www.myersfuneralhomes.com and scroll down to obituaries.
