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LITTLE LAKE, MI – It is with heavy hearts that we have to announce that Johanna S. Butterfield, 91, of Little Lake, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, July 11, 2026, surrounded by and in the care of her loving family.
Johanna was born on January 5, 1935, in Diedesfeld, Germany, to Alois and Magarethe (Kohnen) Berthling. She graduated school in Germany and later went to business school there.
After moving to the United States, she moved many times with her former husband, Norman Butterfield, who was in the Air Force. The place she really enjoyed living was Savannah, Georgia. Later they moved to K.I. Sawyer AFB in the Upper Peninsula and then she moved to Gwinn and then Little Lake, which is where she lived until her passing.
Johanna worked as a cocktail waitress and bartender at the NCO Club on the former air force base and then later as a bartender at Brown’s Tavern in Little Lake, where she enjoyed visiting with the customers. She made up her own nicknames for the regulars, such as; Mr. Boodaweiser for a gentleman who drank Budweiser.
Johanna enjoyed reading and then later audio books. She dearly loved the many pets she had over the years, including Peachy who was with her when she passed. She found great joy in spending time outdoors in the sunshine and tending to her plants.
She appreciated all the help and visits from the community church friends and friends from out of town.
Johanna is survived by her two children (Herzchen’s, sweetheart’s), Sonja (Miles) Martin of Gwinn and Lorenz (Teresa) Butterfield of Little Lake; her grandchildren, Tonya (Joe) Barrett, Joshua (Joanne) Miller, Rachel Miller, Tera Martin and Jeff (Lindy) Martin; her great-grandchildren, Lauren Mattila, Andrew Mattila, Natalie Juidici, Caleb Miller, Cody Miller, Zain Jackson, Lily Bell, Breck Bell, Miles Giotto, Maeve Martin, Kadence Barrett, Aliyah Barrett and Bentley Rozman. She is also survived by her sister, Ursula Grob, and her niece, Sabine (Horst) Lange, both in Germany. She was preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial gathering for friends and family will be held in the pavilion at the Peter Nordeen Park in Gwinn on Friday, July 31, 2026, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Johanna’s name to UPAWs, 815 S. State Hwy M553, Gwinn, MI 49841.
Canale Gwinn Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting Johanna’s family where memories and condolences may be shared at canalefuneral.com