Richard "Butch" P Cole

Richard “Butch” P. Cole, age 71, of Ionia passed away on May 12, 2016 at his home.  He was born on April 22, 1945 to parents Robert and Thelma (Briggs) Cole in Charlotte.  Butch was known as an honorable man and a hardworking man. He would work from sun up to sun down.  He never asked for anything he didn’t think he’d earned.  Butch’s favorite times were spent on hunting trips with his brothers and friend Duane in the U.P. near Escanaba.  He was a journeyman welder and maintenance person at Atmosphere Annealing until his retirement in 2009, along with being a farmer all his life. 

Butch will be lovingly missed by; children Scott Evett and Tina Day of Las Vegas, Rebecca Lobdell of Lake Odessa, Lisa (John) Warner of Ionia, grandchildren John Eastman III, Lana Jo Hale, Krista Hale, Keigan, Kyran and Kyana Sochor, Eric Lobdell Jr., Dominick Warner, Triston Randall, Richard and Charles Hale and great grandchild Lillianna Eastman, brothers Gary “Shorty” (Ruth) Cole of Escanaba, Carroll “Onion” (Kay) Cole of Charlotte, sister Tanis Parks of Pueblo,CO, and best friend Buddy.  Butch was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Thelma Cole and granddaughter Joyce Hale. 

Memorial services will be held at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, MI.  Memorials are suggested to the family to help with expenses. Online condolences can be left at www.koopsfc.com