Fairbury – Wendell J. "Butch" Nylander, Jr, 56, of Fairbury passed away at 6:46 pm with his family at his side, after a 2 year courageous battle with cancer.

Butch's funeral service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, August 13, 2011 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairbury. Pastor Tom Krieger will be officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury.

Visitation for Butch will be from 3-8:00pm on Friday, August 12, 2011 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and one hour prior to services at church on Saturday.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to a medical expense fund established at the Fairbury Cropsey Community Bank.

Butch was born August 9, 1954 in Bloomington the son of Wendell and Mary Ellen Zimmerman Nylander, Sr.

He married Carolyn Crawford his faithful caregiver on May 16, 1981 in Fairbury. She survives.

Surviving are his mother in Fairbury; one son, Chris (Tressa) Bivens of Louisville, KY; one daughter, Tara (Mike) Norris of Fairbury; grandchildren, Samantha, Chase, Addie, Brody, Tyler, Elisabeth, and Andru; sister, Peggy (Richard) Peterson of Brenham, TX; brother-in-law, Jim Story of Whitehouse, TN; his beloved dog, Romo; and best friend and caregiver, Mark Mundell.

He was preceded in death by his father, one son, Nathan Nylander and one sister, Barbara Story.

Butch is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairbury where he served on the church council for three years. He worked for Brandt Consolidated in Fairbury.

Butch was a handyman and a hard worker. He always had a "project" and finished it to perfection.

Two of his favorite hobbies are NASCAR and fishing.

Butch loved his family and had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren.

The family would like to extend their gratitude and thanks to Dr. Migas and Dr. Stacy for their continued and relentless care for Butch.