Eileen Justine Buttleman, 98, of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on April 27,2026, at Sage Meadow Assisted Living and Memory Care facility.

Eileen was born on October 20, 1927, on the family farm near Lowden, Iowa, to Emil and Ella (Kahl) Licht. She attended a nearby country school, Trinity Lutheran School and graduated from Lowden High school in 1944. She played on the girls' basketball team that competed in the State tournament that year.

She married Duane Russel Buttleman on June 30, 1946, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowden after his return from active duty in the Marine Corps. The couple made their home in Lowden for 40 years - first living in town, then later (1976) building and maintaining a beautiful homestead in the country, where they remained until Duane's death in January 1986.

After her husband's passing, Eileen resided in Davenport, Iowa, for several years before moving to Lake Geneva, where she has lived for the past 20 years.

Eileen was a dedicated Mother and an excellent homemaker who enjoyed sewing and gardening. She was especially known by her family and friends for her baking skills, gracious hospitality and willingness to help others. In leisure time, she loved puzzles, cards, and games. Eileen was both revered and loved by those who knew her and will be remembered for her calm and kind demeanor, hardworking nature, and sweet temperament.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister and brother-in-law, Luetta and Raymond Meier.

She is survived by her five children: daughter Karyn (Gregory) Witte; sons Michael, Douglas (Mara), Thomas ( Charmaine), and Christopher; granddaughters Katherine (Steven) Lemery, Margaret (Sujeevan) Ratnasingham, Elizabeth (Eric) Goodman, Adanissa (Tod) Snell, and Amberleigh (Thaddeus) Cellak; great-grandchildren: James, Marc and Rebecca Lemery, Elin and Miles Ratnasingham, and Caitlyn and Cassandra Snell; her brother Wesley (Jane) Licht and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation is scheduled at Chapman's Funeral Home, Clarence, Iowa, on Thursday, May 7, from 5-7 P.M. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 8, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lowden, at 10:30 A.M. A luncheon will be served in the Fellowship Hall following burial at the Lowden Cemetery. In addition, A 'Celebration of Life' gathering will take place on Saturday, May 9, at the Lake Geneva House of Music at N3241 County Road H in Lake Geneva starting at 5:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in their Mother’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital - online at stjude.org or by calling 800.805.5856 or Memorials can be directed to the family c/o Karyn Witte, 2341 East 29th Street, Davenport, IA 52803.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Sage Meadow and St. Croix Hospice for their diligent, attentive care.