Robert J. Buteau

Robert J. Buteau, of Bedford, NH, passed away at 12:05am on Saturday May 21st, after ninety rich years of life. He passed peacefully in his sleep after being surrounded by his family over his last few days. He is survived by his darling wife of seventy-one years, Dorothy, the wife of his deceased son Michael, Debby Blankenship Buteau of Merrimack, his daughter Suzanne of Manchester and her husband David Gray, his son Joseph of Goffstown and his wife Kelly, his sister Gertrude Gagnon of Newport and her family, the family of his deceased brother Alton of Amherst, his grandchildren Nicholas, Melissa, Maegan, Erin, and Charlie, and several great grandchildren.

Bob (or Joe) was born in Brooklyn, NY on January 30th, 1932. He grew up in Maine and New Hampshire before following in the footsteps of his father by joining the Army. He served in the US Army Corps of Engineers for twenty-two years, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant E6 and several commendations for his excellence. His time in the army let Bob see the world, and introduced him to his lifelong partner Dot, a Southern beauty every bit his match. He served in both the Korean War and Vietnam, and was stationed across the United States and Europe. It was in Europe where Bob and Dot would start their family, adopting their son Michael in Germany. Several years later their daughter Suzanne would be born in Texas, and several years more still, their youngest son Joseph in Nashua.

Bob worked hard to provide for his family, making a living at Ingersoll Rand, Southern NH Hospital, Teradyne, and Walmart after retiring from the Army. He had a tireless work ethic and a wonderfully technical mind, and was well liked by his coworkers and customers. He was a member of the American Legion and a proud Veteran. He loved big-band music and the crooners of the 40’s, dancing and laughing, the French language, model trains, his daily newspaper, watching movies with massive portions of popcorn, and, most of all, chasing around his great grandchildren. As a member of the Silent Generation, he was a man of few words for much of his life, but became an affable storyteller in his later years, connecting with his children and telling his grandchildren jokes and war stories.

Bob outlived all of his childhood friends and many of his family, blessed with relatively good health and herculean strength until his very end. He had a hearty laugh and a crushing handshake, and an appetite matched by no man. When we remember him, we remember that he is a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather, a sibling, an uncle, a soldier, an American hero, and a man who worked the hardest so that we all might have a better life. Most of all we will remember that he is a good man and that we love him.

Funeral arrangements will be made by McHugh Funeral Home in Manchester, NH. Bob will be buried at Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boscawen, NH.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McHughFuneralHome.com for the Buteau family.