Gerald ‘Butch’ Roberts

Butch was united in marriage to Janice Chouinard on August 3, 1974, and spent the last 47 years being a loving husband and father. He was so proud to be a grandpa and great-grandpa to his 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

He worked for Harnischfeger and Northern Rebuilders/Cloverland Industries for many years and retired from Lamar Advertising Co.

In his younger years, Butch loved being in his garage working on and painting cars with his friends and family. He and Janice subbed on bowling leagues for many years, where they met some of their life-long, best friends. He was very involved in the U.P Garden Tractor Pullers, Inc., for many years. One of Butch’s all-time loves was hunting. If you didn’t find him in his garage or woodworking shop, he was either out at hunting camp finding more projects to work on then time ever allowed him before the next opening day of deer season or camping with family and friends at some of their favorite campgrounds and music festivals.

Butch never hesitated to lend a helping hand, whether it was with his wife’s Girl Scout adventures, moving his daughters from place to place, helping friends and neighbors with constructions projects, outside projects and anything he thought they might need a hand with. He was a jack of all trades; and touched more lives than he will ever know in so many ways we cannot put them all into words.

In addition to his loving wife, Janice, Butch is survived by his five daughters, Jessica (Wes) Passinault of Amherst, Wis., Melissa (Brandon) McCormick of Marquette, Mich., Tricia (Brad) Brunette of Escanaba, Mich., Rebecca (Todd) Gustafson of Rapid River, Mich., and Katie (Marc) Viau of Gladstone, Mich.; brothers, Ken (Marcy) Roberts of Mass City, Mich., and Tom (Mickie) of Flat Rock, Mich.; sisters, Diane (Karl) Hess of Flat Rock, Mich., Cheryl Wendrick of Flat Rock, Mich., Nancy (Marv) Levesque of Riverland, Mich., and Lisa (John) Trotter of Gladstone, Mich.; grandchildren, Hayley and Tyler Small, Hayden Passinault, Avey and Logan Gustafson, Porter and Parker McCormick, Caraline, Hunter and Charlotte Viau and his great-granddaughter, Lena Kurszewski.

Butch also had numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, who he loved dearly and could always rely on him for a smile and good laugh.

Butch is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Alice Roberts, and niece, Heather Hess.

Family will receive friends Saturday, August 7, 2021, from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Mass of Christian burial is scheduled for 2 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church in Gladstone with Rev. Fr. Jamie Ziminski officiating. Following mass, family and friends will be welcome to gather at Butch’s home for food, drinks, and lots of laugh as he wanted.

In lieu of flowers, the family has a memorial fund set up in Butch’s name at Peninsula Federal Credit Union. Please visit www.skradskifuneralhomes.com where you can leave a message of condolence to the family.