Brunswick
In the early morning hours of Thursday, the third day of November, 2022, Charles Edward Butts, age 84, died peacefully at his home in Brunswick, due to chronic cardiac issues. His loving wife, Johanna Frissell, and his daughter, Lissa Merrill were by his side.
Charlie was born in Ellsworth on April 6, 1938, the youngest son of Louis and Helen Butts. Charlie had three brothers, Donald, Merrill and Eugene, who preceded him in death. Charlie attended primary and secondary school in Ellsworth, where he was a proud member of the Ellsworth High School basketball team. He went on to graduate from the University of Maine-Orono before joining the U.S. Air Force in 1963 and serving for five years, mostly in Bitburg, Germany. He was honorably discharged as a captain.
After a short stint in Boston working as a stockbroker, he returned to his home state and began a lifelong career in banking by joining the Union Trust Co. in Ellsworth as a vice president and loan officer. He then worked for the Norway National Bank in Norway, Maine, and eventually joined Maine Savings Bank of Portland, where he spent most of his career. After the demise of Maine Savings, Charlie joined Border Trust Co., where he worked until his retirement.
Charlie was a very warm and caring man, and he enjoyed knowing the local people through his work and procuring personal and business loans for them. Charlie was a strongly social and civic-minded person, a longtime Kiwanis member, a steadfast animal lover, an avid gardener and photographer and a Higgins Beach-goer (beach only, water never!!).
Charlie’s family brought him much joy. He had two daughters from his first marriage to Nikki Millonzi, Lissa and Stefi. He later married Helga Thurston with children Kevin and Barbara Thurston, whom he loved as his own.
He spent his last 20 years living in Brunswick with his beloved wife and devoted partner Johanna Frissell-Butts and her sons Aaron and Tristan Splint. Upon retiring, Charlie and Johanna traveled extensively throughout the United States. They particularly enjoyed the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Mexico, Bermuda and frequent visits to the Florida coast, where they had many close friends and family. Charlie and Johanna were also longtime season ticket holders of the Portland Symphony and Midcoast Symphony orchestras. It was at a concert in 2002 that Charlie and Johanna first met each other, with a little help from Charlie’s best friend, Michael Bennett.
Family left behind include: his wife, Johanna Frissell-Butts; two daughters, Lissa Merrill and husband, Andrew, and Stefi Steckerl and husband, Shally; five grandsons, Sha’an Steckerl, Lincoln and Brooks Merrill and Shayne and Austin Splint; three granddaughters, Samantha Steckerl, Julia Splint and Isabella Burnap; a dear niece, Cheryl Sanfacon, and her husband, Dennis; and nephew Michael Butts.
Our beloved Charlie will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, at the Episcopal Church of St. Mary’s, 43 Foreside Road, Falmouth. Memorial contributions can be made to the Episcopal Church of St. Mary’s, Falmouth or CHANS Home Health & Hospice, 45 Baribeau Dr., Brunswick, ME 04011. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.brackettfh.com.