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John L. Buittner Oct 17 1924 - Dec 19 2009
A Funeral Mass for John Leo Buittner, age 85, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2009, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Watertown. Fr. John Lantsberger will be the celebrant. Music will be provided by Donna Williams as organist and Blaine Martian as song leader. John passed away on Saturday, December 19, 2009, at a local care center. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be provided by Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion, and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be: John’s nieces and nephews, his K.C. brothers, his brick mason brothers, and all of his many friends. Active pallbearers will be: Adam Stevenson, Mike Rieffenberger, Gary Peschong, Paul Johnson, Ed Painter, and Paul Johnson. Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. Scripture Wake service and will continue on Wednesday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Wednesday by 9:30 a.m. for a prayer service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the ‘John and Arlene Buittner Endowment Fund’ in care of the Catholic Foundation of Eastern South Dakota. John was born on October 17, 1924, in Hot Springs, SD, to Michael and Elizabeth (Longen) Buittner. The family moved to Webster, SD, where John attended St. Otto’s Parochial School and graduated from Webster high School. After graduating, John attended a trade school in Rapid City, SD. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving in the South Pacific with the amphibious forces on a landing and patrol craft until his discharge in 1946. John was united in marriage to Arlene Braley on December 26, 1946, in Milbank, SD. John worked in high-line construction. The couple moved to Sioux Falls, SD, where John worked in building construction and later for the John Morrell Company. John attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN, for a short time before moving back to Milbank where he owned and operated his own auto body business. John eventually sold his business and returned to building construction and then became a bricklayer, working for contractors in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Iowa. In 1957, John and Arlene moved to Watertown, SD, and John continued working as a bricklayer. He started Watertown Glass Company and later sold that business and was one of the original owners of MBK Construction. As time went by, John sold his share of MBK Construction and originated his own construction company known as Bitner Construction, which he operated for over 30 years, until his retirement in 1995. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and presently a member of Holy Name Catholic Church. John volunteered for many different projects in the catholic community. He was a lifetime member of VFW and DAV. He was also a member of the American Legion, the Brick Masons – Local #5 of Watertown, and the Knights of Columbus Council 859, where he held various offices including “Faithful Navigator of the 4^th Degree”. John always enjoyed working at his trade. He also enjoyed the outdoors by fishing, hunting, gardening, and feeding the wild birds. John is survived by one sister-in-law, Sarah Buittner, of Spearfish, SD; several nieces and nephews; and his special friends, the Eugene and Vickey Rieffenberger family of Watertown, SD. He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene, on July 1, 1993; his parents; four brothers; and one sister.

John L. Buittner
Oct 17 1924 - Dec 19 2009

A Funeral Mass for John Leo Buittner, age 85, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2009, at Holy Name Catholic Church in Watertown. Fr. John Lantsberger will be the celebrant. Music will be provided by Donna Williams as organist and Blaine Martian as song leader. John passed away on Saturday, December 19, 2009, at a local care center.

Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be provided by Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion, and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the SD Army National Guard. Honorary pallbearers will be: John’s nieces and nephews, his K.C. brothers, his brick mason brothers, and all of his many friends. Active pallbearers will be: Adam Stevenson, Mike Rieffenberger, Gary Peschong, Paul Johnson, Ed Painter, and Paul Johnson.

Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. Scripture Wake service and will continue on Wednesday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Wednesday by 9:30 a.m. for a prayer service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the ‘John and Arlene Buittner Endowment Fund’ in care of the Catholic Foundation of Eastern South Dakota.

John was born on October 17, 1924, in Hot Springs, SD, to Michael and Elizabeth (Longen) Buittner. The family moved to Webster, SD, where John attended St. Otto’s Parochial School and graduated from Webster high School. After graduating, John attended a trade school in Rapid City, SD. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving in the South Pacific with the amphibious forces on a landing and patrol craft until his discharge in 1946.

John was united in marriage to Arlene Braley on December 26, 1946, in Milbank, SD. John worked in high-line construction. The couple moved to Sioux Falls, SD, where John worked in building construction and later for the John Morrell Company. John attended Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, MN, for a short time before moving back to Milbank where he owned and operated his own auto body business. John eventually sold his business and returned to building construction and then became a bricklayer, working for contractors in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Iowa. In 1957, John and Arlene moved to Watertown, SD, and John continued working as a bricklayer. He started Watertown Glass Company and later sold that business and was one of the original owners of MBK Construction. As time went by, John sold his share of MBK Construction and originated his own construction company known as Bitner Construction, which he operated for over 30 years, until his retirement in 1995.

He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and presently a member of Holy Name Catholic Church. John volunteered for many different projects in the catholic community. He was a lifetime member of VFW and DAV. He was also a member of the American Legion, the Brick Masons – Local #5 of Watertown, and the Knights of Columbus Council 859, where he held various offices including “Faithful Navigator of the 4^th Degree”. John always enjoyed working at his trade. He also enjoyed the outdoors by fishing, hunting, gardening, and feeding the wild birds.

John is survived by one sister-in-law, Sarah Buittner, of Spearfish, SD; several nieces and nephews; and his special friends, the Eugene and Vickey Rieffenberger family of Watertown, SD.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene, on July 1, 1993; his parents; four brothers; and one sister.

Guest book

Comment posted by: Carla
Wed 06th Jan 2010 11:56 am

I and My husband were fortunate enough to be in a bible study with John he was such a sweet wise man.

Comment posted by: Larry Gebur
Tue 22nd Dec 2009 08:30 pm

I stopped at the funeral home today and signed my name and Don Loterbauers name. John (Johnny B) was my dads cousin. We stopped at Johns fathers (Uncle Mike)place at Webster many times in the 40s to take Uncle Mike Fishing. Don enjoyed Johnny Bs visits in Webster, and when I took Don to the Dr. in Watertown we would often stop to see John, we always had a good visit. John said he ran landing craft to take soldiers and marines to landings in the Pacific during WWII. Uncle Mike, and the 4 Bu

Comment posted by: Deb
Mon 21st Dec 2009 09:00 pm

You couldn't ask for a more kind or caring uncle. Thanks for all the great memories, John. You will be forever in my heart. Blessed be your memory.

Comment posted by: The Lacher Family
Mon 21st Dec 2009 04:48 pm

We are so very sorry to hear about the loss of our dear friend John. It has been a little over two years ago that we moved in next door to John, while waiting for our home to be built. John so loved our little boys and would make sure that they always had candy. He just loved to watch them in the back yard playing football. It was also so great to come home and see him sitting in his chair outside. He was such a wonderful friend to us all. He will be missed!
God Bless you John!
Jenny, K

Comment posted by: Ann
Mon 21st Dec 2009 10:11 am

I am so sad to hear of John’s passing. I will always remember being so excited to go to John and Arlene’s house to play pool in the basement and play cards around the kitchen table. I especially loved getting John’s letters in the mail throughout the years; they were so kind and heartwarming. I will miss John dearly.

Comment posted by: Michael
Sun 20th Dec 2009 07:56 pm

John was such a great man. He had a generous spirit was always committed to the catholic faith. Many brick buildings all over Watertown were built by him and his team. He was proud of his work and took the time to make it a quality product. He was kind enough to buy me my first plane ticket when I was 8 years old. I will never forget it. I did not sleep for days. I now work in the airline industry. He was a great uncle.

Comment posted by: kim
Sat 19th Dec 2009 02:08 pm

I am so sorry to read about the loss of your loved one, Mr. Buittner.
Please let this scripture be of comfort. Revelation 21:3,4 "With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his peoples. And God himself will be with them. 4 And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

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