John Joseph Butschek, 93, of Hallettsville, passed away March 2, 2022.  He was born on October 8, 1926, the sixth child born to Henry and Susan Kubena Butschek.  He attended high school at St. John's Seminary in San Antonio.

On May 2, 1949, John married Mary Lou Shandera in Yoakum, TX.  He was completely devoted to Mary throughout their 61 years of marriage.  They were blessed with 9 children, 23 grandchildren (who knew him better as "Papa"), and 15 great-grandchildren.  He shared his deep faith in God, a profound work ethic, untiring perseverance and his charming smile with everyone he met.

John worked for Shell Oil Company for 40 years, hiring on as a Field Laborer at age 21 and progressing to Maintenance Foreman, then Plant Foreman, and then Production Foreman over the course of his career.  He helped design the production aspect of two sister processing plants.  He was Shell Oil's negotiator in the 1980's during the purchase of a gas processing plant in west Texas.

Always interested in his community, John taught catechism classes, was a Little League coach, a high school girls' basketball coach, and a high school football referee.  He was a PTO and school board President, President of the Lavaca Co. Right to Life and of the Catholic Union of Texas.  He was an officer in the Knights of Columbus, the Lion's Club, the Lavaca Co. Taxpayers Association, County Appraisal Review Board, and he served on the Regional Water Planning Board.  After he retired, John was elected to the Hallettsville City Council and served as Mayor Pro Tem and Mayor.

John is survived by:  sister Eleanor (Tiny) Wagner of Moulton; children and in-laws, Diane Rehmke & her husband Fred Rehmke, Joan Davis & husband Dr. Keith Davis, Martha Sailers-Butschek, Michael Butschek & Ginny Butschek, Kenneth Butschek & Theresa Butschek, Rosemary Vorpahl & Doug Vorpahl, David Butschek, Richard Butschek & Christine Nelson-Butschek, and Kevin Butschek; 23 grandchildren and their spouses; and 15 great-grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by; his wife Mary Lou Butschek, his son Anthony Butschek, and daughter-in-law Shelle Butschek.

Funeral Mass Service: 10:30 am, Friday, March 11, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic, TX; Visitation starting at 9:30 am with Rosary starting at 10 am. Officiant: Msgr. John Peters. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. Memorials (in lieu of flowers): please have Masses said for John.