Ufner

“When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”

— Kahlil Gibran

Mitchell “Mitch” Ufner, 85, of Butler passed away peacefully at home on Thursday while being lovingly cared for by his family. He will be missed, but his legacy will carry on. Not only was he a magnificent man, he was a loving, caring, and wise father as well as a dedicated and heartfelt husband who made time for everyone. He celebrated his uniqueness and fostered it in his own family. Mitch was known to be a great entertainer and to have a unique sense of humor. To him, the world was “Fantastic.”

Born Jan. 11, 1928, Mitch was the son of the late Michael and Mary Suchy Ufner of Lyndora. He graduated from Butler Area Senior High School in 1946. He married the former Joan Grigoletti on July 13, 1950. He also graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor of arts in sociology in 1952, and proudly served in the U.S. Army. He went through infantry/heavy weapons basic training and served as chief clerk and a qualified paratrooper in the 11th Airborne in Sapporo, Japan.

After his military service, Mitch was owner of Delco Quality Foods and Little Luigi's Pizza in Butler. In his retirement years, he gave back to the city he loved, serving as Butler city councilman for eight years. During his tenure as councilman, he served as director of parks and recreation, where he oversaw all operations of city parks and recreational activities. His achievements included reopening all playgrounds in the city that were previously closed due to budget reasons. He also added boccie courts and a volleyball court to Butler Memorial Park. He was also instrumental in the cleanup of Sullivan Run. Mitch also served for a number of years at the Butler County Courthouse as tipstaff.

Interested in community affairs, Mitch held a number of leadership positions, including president and board member of the Butler Rotary; president of St. Paul's PTG; vice president of the Chamber of Commerce; chairman to American Cancer Drive, United Way, YMCA Membership Drive and 1st Freedom Celebration; vice chairman of the NW Division PA League of Cities; and board member of the YMCA and Butler Country Club. He also was active in the YMCA Building Fund Drive; Knights of Columbus Charities; City of Butler Redevelopment Authority; Associated Artists of Butler County; Elks, and Lifesteps. Mitch was a devout and involved parishioner of St. Paul's Parish in Butler and an active member of the church choir who had a rich tenor voice. Additionally, Mitch received the following community awards, Rotary Lifetime Achievement Paul Harris Award and the United States Masters Swimming National Championship for his division.

Mitch was inducted into Butler County's Sports Hall of Fame in 2003, and was described as a “sportsman for all seasons.” He was football manager at Butler High School for two years before deciding to try out for the squad. He had 18 solo tackles against Beaver Falls in 1945. Besides playing football at Butler High, he played offensive and defensive end and linebacker for the Butler Cubs from 1947-50 as well as on the University of Pittsburgh football team. He lettered in swimming for three years in high school, placing at the WPIAL and PIAA meets. Mitch went on to swim for the University of Pittsburgh and was part of a team that won 38 consecutive meets. He joined the service and boxed for the ship championship aboard the USS Victory as it crossed the Pacific Ocean. He represented Butler Rotary and played golf in Scotland against the Scottish champion of Rotary District 101 in 1977. He was instrumental later in expanding the annual Rotary exchange to eight couples. Mitch was a Masters swimmer for nearly 25 years and was part of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that won the Masters national championship in 1996.

Mitch was multidimensional, always experiencing life to the fullest and enjoying traveling the world with his wife. He was best known as a practical joker, which he passed on to his children. He was passionate about the outdoors, whether it was hunting, fishing, mushroom picking, growing raspberries (i.e., turning them into jam and liquor), or golfing (including a hole-in-one), and was known to bring home unusual and often unwanted pets from his adventures in the woods. One of his pleasurable activities was walking his cat, Mikey, on a leash around his neighborhood. Mitch was awarded the Triple Trophy, which is harvesting a bear, buck, and turkey in one hunting season. He also was known for beating the odds while playing cards. Creatively, he painted beautiful watercolors, winning several awards for his work through the years.Most recently, when given the diagnosis of an extremely rare and aggressive form of lung cancer, his family found Mitch to be a tough survivor who was always appreciative of his family and friends during his progressively debilitating illness.Surviving are his wife of almost 63 years, Joan (Grigoletti) Ufner of Butler; four children, Michelle Ufner, formerly of Annapolis, Md., Richard Ufner (Barbara) of Valencia, JoEllen Ufner and her partner, Paul Skok, of Denver, Colo., and Julie Ufner of Alexandria, Va.; two grandchildren, Anthony Lenz of Arlington, Va., and Sarah Ufner of San Francisco, Calif.; and his cat, Mikey.Mitch was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John Ufner of Stuart, Fla.

UFNER — Friends of Mitchell “Mitch” Ufner, who died Thursday, May 23, 2013, will be received from 1 to 3 p.m. and again from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, with a brief prayer service afterward.The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler, with the Rev. Harry Bielewicz officiating.Committal services will follow in Calvary Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mitch's name to either the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church Choir, 128 N. McKean St., Butler, PA 16001 or the Butler County Humane Society, 1015 Evans City Road, Renfrew, PA 16053.Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.