Ira Griswold Obituary

Everybody’s friend and King of the One Liners, Ira “Butch” Griswold Jr., age 85, died Monday, July 21, 2025, at home after a battle with leukemia.

Butch was born May 25, 1940, to Ira and Iola Griswold. He has three sisters: Midge Griswold, Susie (John) Sailing and Liz (Johnny) Simmons. He attended school in Fennimore. Butch enlisted in the Air Force in 1958 and served 8 years, 3 months and 15 days before being discharged in 1966. Most of his career Butch drove a semi- truck for Koschkee Transfer and bartended at the Cottonwood in Fennimore. He was an avid sports fan, enjoyed cheering on his favorite teams, spending time with family, feeding squirrels in his backyard and enjoying a glass or two of brandy with his friends.

Surviving is his loving wife: Jeanne of 48 years; stepdaughter: Christine (David) Hahn; daughter-in-law: Lisa (Mark) Lichtenberg; and grandchildren: Spencer (Jenna) and Blake Hahn, Adam, Brody, Carson and Payton Griswold, Drew, Sophia and Bradley Lichtenberg.

Butch was preceded in death by beloved son Bradley Griswold.

Funeral service will be held on Monday, August 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem E&R Church, Lancaster, with Rev. Mark Dieter officiating. The burial with military honors will be in Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster. Family and friends may call on Monday, from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church. Funeral dinner to follow at Cottonwood in Fennimore, WI. Martin Schwartz Funeral Homes & Crematory in Lancaster is assisting the family.