Donald J. Butler, of Peterborough, New Hampshire, died peacefully on June 19, 2026, with his family at his bedside.

Donald was born on August 7, 1943, in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to Donald J. Butler, Sr. and Mary Ciarlone Butler. He graduated from Notre Dame High School in Fitchburg, Massachusetts in 1961 and Keene State College in 1971. He lived in Jaffrey, Rindge, and Peterborough for most of his life.

He served in the US Army during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In February 1962, Don married his high school sweetheart, Pauline Ann Bernier (Polly).

He owned and operated Butler Painting Company and also worked for Butler Amusement Company before joining Morton Building, Inc. as a Sales and Design Consultant, retiring in 2005 after 22 years.

Don was a lifelong member and Communicant of St. Patrick Church in Jaffrey and starting in 1996, he served as a Eucharistic minister for many years.

He was a member of The Knights of Columbus and served as Deputy Grand Knight. He also was a member of The Men of St. Joseph.

Always athletic, Don played baseball at Keene State College and softball for a number of years for the DD Bean Eagles of Jaffrey. He also played in regional playoffs for the Keene Merchants and the Manchester Giants. He was a NH Golden Gloves Champion, Jaffrey Cub Scout Leader and Little League coach for many years. He started and coached the Jaffrey Mountaineers Babe Ruth team.

He was a past member of the Monadnock Rod and Gun Club, Jaffrey Lions Club and Rotary Club, as well as the Ashby Beagle Club. He served as chairperson on the Rindge Board of Adjustment for 10 years. He was a member of the American Legion Honor Guard for many years. As an avid hunter, sportsman and golfer, Don spent much of his spare time walking in the woods and enjoying the outdoors.

He enjoyed worldwide travel and participated in several humanitarian missions to Bosnia during the 1990’s and visited multiple Marian Shrines worldwide. Don and Polly wintered in Barefoot Bay, Florida for a number of years.

He is survived by his wife Polly of Peterborough; son, Steven and wife Colleen, of Milford, New Hampshire; three grandchildren, Nicole O’Keeffe of Austin, TX, Nina Wedig of West Dundee, IL and Steven J. Butler, Jr of Cary, IL; three great grandchildren, Emma and Oliver O’Keeffe of Austin, TX, and Evelyn Wedig of West Dundee, IL; three step-grandchildren, Brad Bosse of Hooksett, NH, Adam Bosse (Anya), Carly Bosse, and Bailey Johnson, all from Milford; and two step-grandchildren Hayden and Naia of Milford. He is also survived by his brother, Wayne Butler of Carmel, CA, and sister, Anna Jo Geraci of Jaffrey, NH.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 11:00 AM in St. Patrick Church, 89 Main Street, Jaffrey, NH 03452.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 15 Constitution Dr Suite 1G, Bedford, NH 03110, or to St. Patrick’s Outreach, 87 Main Street, Jaffrey, NH 03452.