ZANE ATLEY KROUPA JR.

PANTON — Zane Atley Kroupa Jr., 67, known as Butch to family, was born Sept. 21, 1956, in Oakland County, Mich., and died Sept. 20, 2024, at the University of Vermont Medical Center from a family genetic disease, PKD.

At 17, Butch (a rebel) hated high school and quit to join the U.S. Marine Corp, serving four years and successfully escaping incarceration. By his late twenties he had acquired enough self-taught natural skills to start his own contractor business. While working in Florida a Vermont physician (not a farmer, sorry Dutchies) hired Butch to build a home in Vermont. He quickly fell in love with the area and planted his feet in Panton, Vt., until God called him home.

He was a member of the Sault Saint Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. He loved his dog Moo Moo, beer, hunting, fishing, the Patriots, his sister’s Yooper pasties, not being bothered by stupid people (which was everyone), tormenting his nurses during dialysis, and most of all, freely sharing his outstanding vernacular in the art of cussing.

He is survived by: Jacob Garrison (stepson, U.S. Airforce), Tara Freese (daughter, Cincinnati Ohio), siblings Julie Kroupa (Green Bay, Wis.) and Stephen Kroupa (Sherman, Texas), aunts, cousins and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by parents Zane Sr. and Mary (Reffruschinni), daughter Renée Jean, and siblings Renée, Veronica, Dorthy and David.

There will not be a service, but well-wishers are encouraged to write a farewell on your favorite can of beer and drink in his honor. Butch struggled with organization and can now find every tool he scattered across the county looking down from heaven. He can also find the tools borrowed and never returned so best to drink a second toast to him if you fall in this category if you know what I mean.

Our beloved Zane will be missed and laid to rest at noon Oct. 26, 2024 at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising Mich. ◊