Mary Fluckiger Butler, 87, of Dubuque died peacefully on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Bethany Home in Dubuque, Iowa. Private family services will be held at Linwood Cemetery.

Mary was born on June 29, 1937 in Dubuque, IA, and was the only child of Frank and Bernice Fluckiger. She graduated from Dubuque Senior High School and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Mary married Peter Dan Butler on November 14, 1959 in Dubuque, IA. They had two children; Peter Butler II, and Paul Butler.

Mary was very proud of her family and loved spending time with Peter, their kids, and grandkids. They were a big part of her life. They had many happy memories as a family.

Mary and Peter II often teamed up against Peter Sr. and Paul on Sunday afternoons to play golf. Mary often accompanied Peter on the golf course and enjoyed putting (with one eye closed) while Peter was playing. She was a better putter than Peter, which made him both proud and annoyed.

Mary loved to travel with her husband, Peter. They particularly enjoyed train trips out west with their sons Peter II and Paul. Peter almost always took his golf clubs along to play the many renowned golf courses across our country. Their love of golf eventually drew them to Pebble Beach, CA, where they lived for many years overlooking their beloved Pebble Beach Golf Links next to Carmel Bay. Mary’s favorite daily activity in Pebble Beach was taking her morning walk on the Pebble Beach Golf Links overlooking the beach and Carmel Bay.

Mary was an active member of Finley Hospital’s Sunshine Circle. One of the special things she did was to make homemade Christmas ornaments for Advent calendars, which she loved and was very proud of.

Surviving are Mary’s two sons, Peter (Cara) Butler, of Pebble Beach, CA and their children, Ellis (Ellie) and Peter Butler III (P3); Paul (Kathleen) Butler, of Bozeman, MT and their children, William and Abbey Butler; and brothers-in law, John (Alice) Butler and Tim (Nancy) Butler, both from Dubuque; and several nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Peter D. Butler Sr.; her parents, Frank and Bernice Fluckiger; and her in-laws, Ellis and Barbara Butler.

Memorials for Mary may be sent to Bethany Home or the Sunshine Circle/Unity Point Health-Finley Hospital.

Our family wants to extend our deepest gratitude and thanks to Dr. Chad Nachtman and Bethany Home for compassionately caring for Mary in the last years of her life. We also thank Hospice of Dubuque.

Lisa Flanagan and Charlotte Leick were invaluable in the care they provided Mary. We can’t thank them enough for the thoughtful, one-on-one assistance they provided Mary.