Gerald “Butch” Thomas Bucholz, Sr., 79, of Daylily Drive, Franklin, passed away March 23, at UPMC Northwest in Seneca.

Born March 10, 1935, in Rouseville, Butch was the son of the late Albert August and Mildred Dorothy Coshnitzke Bucholz. He was a 1945 graduate of DePaul Institute for the Deaf in Pittsburgh.

Butch worked at Joy Mining for 30 years in Maintenance, retiring in April of 2000. He was an active member of the Congress Hill Church of God. He devoted much time to the Church and enjoyed joking and spending time with his Church family.

Butch also enjoyed playing cards, various games, and having morning coffee with his family and friends, keeping a routine of mowing and yard work, and many different wood-working projects.

Butch first married LaDonna Irwin on September 27, 1958 in Rouseville. They have four children, Perry Bucholz of Plumer, Patrick Bucholz and his wife, Jackie, of Franklin, Gerald Bucholz and his girlfriend, Sue Love, of Rouseville, and Amanda Andres and her husband, Robert, of Oil City. Also surviving are his 8 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, and 4 great-step-grandchildren.

He later married Karen A. Stone on June 10, 1976, and she preceded him in death on December 5, 2001.

Butch is also survived by his brother, Jerome Bucholz of Orchard Park, NY; and his 2 sisters, Alberta Wojtowicz of Oil City, and Carol Pineau of Erie.

He was preceded in death by his parent; an infant sister and brother, Rosella and Robert; his 2 brothers, James and Donald; and his sister, Mary.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 29 at the Congress Hill Church of God, with Rev. Johnny Pennington, pastor of the church, officiating. Burial will be in Rynd Farm Cemetery.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Congress Hill Church of God, 406 Congress Hill Road, Franklin, PA 16323.

To send flowers, cards, online condolences, or for further, information, family and friends are invited to visit www.gardinierfuneralhome.com.