Bruce "Butch" Lindgren Obituary (2025)

Bruce “Butch” Lindgren May 19, 1949 – December 26,2025 It is with sadness that the family of Bruce “Butch” Lindgren announce his passing at the age of 76 after many years of complicated health issues. Butch passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in the ICU at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Centre on December 26, 2025. Butch is lovingly remembered by his wife Elaine, son Stephen Lindgren (Eileen), step-daughters Dana Pajerski (Jan), Krista Chambers (Jeremy) and Marne Samsal (Jay), his cherished grandchildren; Lincoln Lindgren, Matti, Kristian and Leon Pajerski, Beckett and Mailey Chambers and Brynn and Briar Samsal. Also surviving Butch are his sisters, Judy West MiddleKamp (Bob) and Pat Wiest (Ken) plus many nieces and nephews, mother-in-law Svea Kadolph, brothers-in-law Larry (Deannie), Terry (Millie) and Bruce Kadolph. Butch was predeceased by his parents Gordon and Peggy Lindgren and father-in-law Roy Kadolph. Butch will be greatly missed by his many good friends who he often kept in contact with and his ‘Brothers from anotha Motha’ as the saying goes, Charlie (Barb) and Louis (Eryn -deceased) Roussin and Millie Pinette. Butch was born in the old Dryden Red Cross Hospital when life was less complicated. Being the youngest and the only son, his sisters say that he was spoiled. He was often with a group of friends riding bikes, swimming, raiding gardens and just having fun. High School days were about the socialization with a splash of academics. He was known for being an instigator, prankster and driving a fast ‘muscle’ car. Butch worked at a few jobs like Dryden Paper Mill, delivering gasoline to tourist camps for Con Sveinson and proudly managing the Old Dryden House. Butch married his first wife in 1978 and they moved to Lethbridge, AB. Butch answered an ad in the paper which launched his 40 year career with Monarch Life, North American Life and finally Manulife as an Insurance Salesman/Investment and Financial Planner. He retired in 2018 as a Five Star Master Builder due to poor health. His career afforded him many wonderful opportunities to travel all over the world through the years and many treasured friendships and client relationships. Butch could start a conversation with anyone and had a fabulous sense of humour which got him out of trouble on more than one occasion. This carried on, particularly in the hospitals where his humour lightened many a serious situation. In the late 80’s, Butch moved his career and family back to Dryden and met his second wife Elaine in the late 90’s, they married in 2006. In 2009 a serious snowmachine accident triggered a host of health problems over the following years. The last two being the most challenging. Despite his poor health, he always said, “There are others out there who are worse off than me.” He was still able to make it to Monday night Poker with ‘The Boys’ no matter how rough his day was and they made sure he could attend. Butch also loved nothing more than to spoil his grand kids, bring smiles to their faces and attending their sports games. Most precious times were the FaceTime visits, especially with grandson Lincoln. The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Stephen Viherjoki for his care over the years, Dr. A. Boake for his compassion and professionalism, Dr. LaFerrier, Dr. Watson, Dr. Silverberg and Dr. Rizc. A very special thank you to the compassionate and caring dialysis nurses at the Lake of the Woods Hospital and Renal Unit of the TBRHC. Also, to our many friends who assisted with driving Butch to treatment in Kenora and our many friends who lent a hand to help with things he no longer could do. A really big thank you to his dear friend Gary Joseph. A Celebration of Life will be held in the early summer of 2026. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Dryden Regional Health Services Foundation– Dialysis Unit, P.O. Box 3003, Dryden, Ontario, P8N 2Z6 or online to Dryden Regional Health Services Foundation www.drhsf.com or through Aurora Funeral Services. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.aurorafuneralservices.ca Arrangements entrusted to Aurora Funeral Services, 304 Kennedy Road, Site 202, RR3, Comp 39, Dryden, ON P8N 3G2