John Pape Childs, 66, Butternut

John Pape Childs Jr. age 66 of Butternut, died peacefully at his home on Monday July 13, 2026, surrounded by his family after a brief battle with cancer.

He was born on February 17, 1960, in Evanston, Il. The son of John Sr. and Bethel (Watson) Childs. His early life and schooling were in Evanston. As a boy his family moved to Butternut where he fell in love with butternut lake and lived the rest of his life there. After High School he attended some college courses and began working at the Papermill where he filled many rolls, his favorite of which were in the treatment plant and lumber yard. On September 29, 1984, he married his best friend, Jill Ann Bablick. Together they shared a life full of love, laughter, and commitment.

John was an avid outdoorsman whose greatest joy was spending time with his family on the lake. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, boating, snowmobiling, and training his dog. John was a hardworking, family man and was always willing to lend a helping hand. He was a member of the Snow Gipsy Snowmobile club and Butternut/Schnur Lake Association.

He is survived by his wife Jill, two daughters; Anna and Nicole Childs, sister Susan Childs-Hartler, Sister-in-law Bonnie Patterson, brothers-in-law George (Deb), Mike (Allison), Joe (Sherry) Bablick, many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends, and his fur babies and grandbabies; Josie, Tom, Jerry, Lenny, Vinny, Bruno, Mufasa, Basil, and Charlie. He was preceded in death by his parents John Sr. And Bethel Childs, his in laws, George Jr. And Janice Bablick, his siblings, Sharon Childs, and Sandy Fields, brothers-in-law AC Hartler, John Fields, and Red Patterson.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am on Friday July 17, 2026 at Immaculate Conception Church in Butternut.  Fr. Raja Birusu will officiate assisted by Deacon Robert Schienebeck.

Burial will follow at St. Cecelia Cemetery in Butternut.

A visitation will be held on Thursday July 16, 2026, at Immaculate Conception Church in Butternut from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and on Friday July 17, 2026, from 10:00am until the hour of the service.

Birch Street Funeral Service is assisting the family.

www.birchstreetfuneralservice.com