Carl “Butch” Bruce Babcock, II of East Tawas, MI passed on April 7, 2023 in Vero Beach, FL with his family by his side. The oldest of four children, Butch was born April 13, 1939 in Tawas City to Carl B. and Oka B. (Millard) Babcock. After graduating from Tawas Area High School in 1957, he attended Central Michigan University before volunteering his draft to serve in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany as a member of the 7th Infantry Regiment, “The Cottonbalers”. Upon his return from the Army in 1960, Butch apprenticed with his father and eventually took over as the owner and sole proprietor of the family business, the Iosco County Abstract Office, where he worked until his passing. While Butch always looked forward to the summers on Tawas Point with his best friends, the Kutcher brothers, it soon became clear that he preferred the company of their little sister Diane. Butch and Diane married on October 17, 1964.
Butch’s vast knowledge of real estate law and title insurance made him a valuable resource to the community. He served as president of the Michigan Land title Association. He was deeply committed to improving his community, and served the residents of Tawas City on the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Parks and Recreation Board and the City Council. He served as a member of the Board of Education for Tawas Area Schools, the Tawas Kiwanis, and the Tawas City Business Association. Butch was also active with the Friends of Tawas Lighthouse, the Tawas Area Chamber of Commerce and the Kanotin Club and was awarded the Tawas City Lighthouse Award by Mayor James Lansky for his lifelong service to the community.
Butch’s faith was a very important part of his life. He was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Holy Family Catholic Church, serving on the Finance Committee as well as a founding member of the local Tuesday Morning Prayer Breakfast Group. He lived his life by the priority of God, family, then work.
As a 4th generation resident, raised on Tawas Bay, Butch had a deep passion for boating of all kinds, power, sail and ice. He began racing small sailboats at the age of ten and continued to do so for over 60 years. For decades, he raced in the Port Huron to Mackinac and/or Chicago to Mackinac races and finished first in the Bayview-Mackinac Race in 2000, 2002, and 2006 on the trimaran Adagio with his long time sailing partners, the Gougeon brothers of Bay City. He raced iceboats with the International DN Ice Yacht Racing Association for several decades. Butch was the Senior Member of the Tawas Bay Yacht Club, a lifetime member, and served as Commodore. He passed his love of the water on to his children and grandchildren. Many summers, he and Diane hosted “Grampa’s Sailing Camp” where knot tying class and Sunfish regattas were not uncommon events. Butch and Diane created a welcoming home where family and friends wanted to come and play and there was always room for one more seat at the table or one more sleeping bag on the floor.
Butch always loved a project and had ceaseless skills. Family, friends and neighbors could count on him to pitch in with his expertise and resources on their project. He could often be found with a grin on his face behind the controls of his tractor or Bobcat. Butch believed in working hard, but also loved to play hard and often combined the two. Many an unsuspecting grandchild found themselves in his truck heading out to the farm to grab something “real quick”, resulting in hours of work, mentorship and fellowship, imbued with wisdom. He wouldn’t just teach you how to do something, but taught you how to do something right.
Butch is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Diane (Kutcher) Babcock and their children and spouses, Lauren (Jamie) Huberty, Bruce (Richelle) Babcock, Elise (Kyle) Howell, as well as grandchildren Phoebe (Alex) Miedema, Matthew Huberty, Ryan Babcock, Anthony Huberty, Sean Babcock, Eva Howell, Jude Howell and great grandchildren Owen and Liam Miedema. He is also survived by his sisters Nicole Dillon and Cheryl Clark and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Brent Babcock.
Memorial contributions may be made in Butch’s name to the Playscape at Holy Family Catholic School or to the Lighthouse Pavilion Project via Friends of Tawas Point State Park.
