Josephine H. “Jo” Butler

Josephine H. “Jo” Butler, 80, of Syracuse, passed away at 9:13 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 at Community North Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born on Sept. 5, 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio to James D. & Faith M. (Melsheimer) Hartshorne.

She graduated in 1954 from Columbus North High School in Columbus, Ohio, 1958 from Ohio University, and received her Master’s Degree in 1972 from Indiana Purdue University in Fort Wayne. She was married in 1958 in Zanesville, Ohio to William V. “Bill” Dieterly who preceded her in August 1967. She was then married on Oct. 4, 1969 in Syracuse to Doyle D. Butler who survives. She moved to the Syracuse area in 1965 from Medina County, Ohio. She formerly taught school in Columbus, Ohio and retired in 1997 from Wawasee Community School Corporation as an elementary teacher at Syracuse Elementary after 30+ years of service.

She was a member of the St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Syracuse where she was active in the United Methodist Women’s Thrift Shop and sang in the choir, Syracuse – Wawasee Garden Club, and Indiana State Retired Teachers Association.

She is survived by her husband, Doyle Butler of Syracuse: five daughters, Sheryl (Roger) Stiver of Nashville, Kathleen (Leroy) Thom of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., Deborah (David) Heeter of Muncie, Diane Hill of Indianapolis, and Barbara (Trenton) Harris of Bothell, Wash; four sons, David (Susie) Butler of Syracuse, Bradley (Linda) Butler of Indianapolis, Donald (Andrea) Dieterly of Simpsonville, S. C., and Daniel (Mary) Dieterly of Sedalia, Missouri; 16 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and a sister, Ada (David) Hautzenroeder of Simi Valley, Calif.

She was preceded in death by her parents, first husband, grandson Keegen Stiver, sister Barbara and brother David.

Visitation will be from 2 – 5 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 7 at Owen Family Funeral Home, 1001 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8, at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, 1413 N. Long Dr., Syracuse, with Pastor Jim Tormey officiating. Cremation will take place at Cremation Services of Kosciusko County, 4356 N. St. Rd 15, Warsaw, IN. Burial will take place at a later date in the Syracuse Cemetery.

Preferred memorials may be given to the St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, 1413 N. Long Dr., Syracuse, IN 46567 or Wawasee Garden Club, c/o Pam Schumm, 10322 N. 800E, Syracuse, IN 46567. To send condolences to the family in memory of Josephine Butler, please visit www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com