Wilfred A. Gauthier

Wilfred “Butch” A. Gauthier, 83, of Gardner, died peacefully Monday, January 3, 2022, in Wachusett Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Gardner, after an illness.

Born in Gardner on November 27, 1938, he was the son of the late Bertram W. and Roselma (Homan) Gauthier. He graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1957. Butch was a United States Air Force Veteran serving from 1958 to 1962, where he received the Good Conduct Medal. He was a Firefighter employed by the City of Gardner for over 22-years prior to his retirement in 1989, where he served as past president of its Firefighter Relief Association. Butch was previously employed by Perla Electric of Leominster.

Butch was a parishioner of Annunciation Parish/ Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner. He was a life member, past president of the Gardner Fish and Gun Club, life member of the Otter River Sportsman Club, member of the Central Caricature Wood Carvers, and member of the Coon Hill Wood Carvers—with many of his wood carvings on display at the Gardner Museum. Butch served as the co-chairman of the Gardner Summer Band Stand. He loved to go fishing, hunting and wood carving. He enjoyed taking trips to the beach at Cape Cod. The time he truly cherished was spent with his family.

Butch is survived by his two sons, Jay T. Gauthier and his wife Sarah of Fayston, VT, and Curt Gauthier of Gardner; two brothers, Gordon Gauthier and his wife Karen and Robert Gauthier and his wife Shirley; a sister, Barbara LeBlanc; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his wife of 55-years, Elaine M. (Beauregard) Gauthier, who died on March 29, 2021; and a son, Dean Russell Gauthier.

Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, January 11, 2022, with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Burial at St. John’s Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, MA, will be held at a later date.

The family requests that those in attendance please adhere to wearing masks.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Gardner Museum, 28 Pearl Street, Gardner, MA 01440. Please reference in memory Wilfred A. Gauthier.