Butch Herges

Butch Herges, a man who loved with his whole heart, died Wednesday. He was 83.

Born Anthony Joseph Herges to Lorraine (Meyer) and Alcuin Herges, on Saturday, November 21, 1942, he was known to all from his earliest days onward simply as Butch. He married Barbara (Whitesell) Herges on May 5, 1962 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Champaign. Butch and Barb celebrated 62 years of marriage last spring.

He was a loving and devoted husband, son, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; and a faithful servant to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His capacity to love his wife, eight children, 25 grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren was seemingly without limit.

Butch is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Nancy (Gould), his brother Pete, and his son Toby. He is survived by his loving wife Barb; seven children, Todd, Kyle, Scott, Matt, Marci, Karah, and Adam; 25 grandchildren, Abby, Rob, Jack, Mark, Olivia, Joe, Emily, Therez, Will, Nick, Tyler, T.J., Natalie, Naika, Macey, Mallory, Tobin, Tate, Tyler, Julia, Bryce, Ty, Tugg, Trey, and Tatum; and twelve great-grandchildren, Zeeya, Zaidyn, Zylie, Carson, Leo, Ellie, J.P., Riley, Parker, Bryce, Elsie, and Emarion. His love for his family was boundless.

Butch was the owner and proprietor of the Tumble Inn Tavern in Champaign for most of his life. He took over the business from his father Al in 1969, and passed it on to his son Toby when he retired in 2002. He was honored to have this as part of his legacy, and was grateful to know that this business remains a valued part of civic life in Champaign-Urbana. His love for those whom he met and became friends with through his business was genuine.

Butch experienced a stroke in 2002, and had taken a retreat from public life from that time onward. However, his love for life and for people continued to be vast. To his family, the last two decades of his life were incredibly valuable. His love for his family continued to flourish during this period of his life, and it allowed him ample time to express this love and to live out a joyful “back nine” as he often called his retirement years. To paraphrase one of his favorite songs, he loved winners when they cry, losers when they try, music when it’s good, and life.

When Butch graduated from Champaign High School in 1960, he was remembered in his senior yearbook as “a boy devoted to pleasure.” This observation proved insightful and prescient for the entirety of his life. Anyone who knew him will remember his trademark predisposition for fun. But there was a deeper wisdom in this impulse that reveals a principle that dictated most of his life’s actions. When his children were young, Barb suggested that the family forego their annual road trip to Florida in order to save money to buy a new set of chairs for their kitchen. Butch was offended by this suggestion because, as he said, his children would always remember their time together on this trip, and no one would ever remember these chairs. He was clear-sighted and definite in his understanding of what was most important in life.

There will be a visitation from 4-6PM on Monday, December 1 at Owens Funeral Home, 101 N Elm St in Champaign. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30AM on Tuesday, December 2 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 1303 Lincolnshire Dr. in Champaign. Burial will follow at St. Mary Cemetery, St. Marys Rd., Champaign.

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