Jane Lou Butters

Jane Lou Kersten Butters passed away peacefully in her home on September 5, 2020. She was born January 24, 1933 in St Claire, Michigan. Jane grew up in Marysville, MI and graduated from Marysville High School. She continued her secondary education and graduated from Alma College in Alma, MI, where she met her future husband, Spenceley Butters. They were married in 1952 and over the years began raising their 4 children, Edward, Mary, Charles and Alan. Jane began her teaching career in Lebanon, Ohio as a music teacher and also coached the 6th grade softball team. She continued her teaching career when the family moved to Clarkston, Michigan where she also coached her sons’ little league teams, led her daughter’s girl scout troop, and took one year off to sell World Book Encyclopedia. When the family moved to St. Charles, Illinois, in 1969, she taught 5th and 6th grade at Davis Elementary and 7th grade at Haines Junior High. She also taught summer school which included teaching kids how to pour and finish concrete. During her many years in St. Charles, IL, Jane was involved in building the bike path along the east side of the Fox River. She furthered her education by earning her Master’s Degree in Teaching in 1973 at Governor’s State University. Jane became listed in the Who’s Who for teachers after she pioneered a method to teach 7th grade students to read by giving each student a newspaper on Mondays. Each student would choose an article to read each day and write a report on it. She believed if you gave a child something they wanted to read, they would learn to read. The Chicago Tribune fully supported her efforts by donating the newspapers and the program ultimately raised the reading levels of numerous 7th graders. In 1990, Jane and Spence bought a home in the Sandpiper community in Lakeland, Florida. They often played golf, were active in weekly bingo, and Jane later served as the president of the homeowners association until after Spence passed away in 2004. Jane remained at Sandpiper until her death. Jane was involved in the Methodist church and other churches her entire life. She always joined the choir and loved to sing. She directed the children’s church choir in Lebanon, OH, during the 5 years she lived there. She played piano, flute and piccolo and Spence played violin. Jane loved to travel. Her most recent trip was a Rhine River Cruise with her daughter Mary, just last year. She was a lifelong Michigan fan carrying on her father’s passion for football when he once played football for the University of Michigan football team. Jane is survived by her brother, Robert Kersten, and her four children, Edward, Mary, Charles and Alan. She is also survived by 12 nieces and nephews, 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Juanita Kersten, husband Spenceley Butters, brother Jack Kersten, sister-in-law Barbara Kersten, and most recently her sister-in-law Carol Kersten who was a lifelong friend. Jane Lou Kersten Butters will be deeply missed for her extremely positive attitude, her insatiable love of sports, her generous nature to those who were close to her, and her unconditional love for her family, relatives, friends and community. Private burial service will be held in October at River View Cemetery in Marysville, MI.