BUTZIER, Douglas J.

BUTZIER, Douglas J. (Mt. Pleasant, IA, June 2, 1955--Dubuque, IA, Oct. 13, 2014) The son of Kenneth and Mary (Rutledge) Butzier, Dr. Butzier's family moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa in 1960, where he attended the Malcomb Price Laboratory School from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating from the Northern University High School in 1973. He started his college career at the University of Montana, studying forestry.

While living in Missoula, Montana, Butzier began working as a fireman and then an EMT where he found his interest in medicine. He returned to Iowa to attend the University of Iowa, to complete his undergraduate degree and then his MD from the University of Iowa Medical School, in 1984. He completed his Emergency Medicine internship training at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington and then attended his residency training at the University of Arizona Trauma Center in Tucson, finishing this training in 1987.

Dr. Butzier worked as an ER doctor in the Twin Cities and Tucson before moving to Dubuque in 1997, where he joined the staff of MERCY MEDICAL CENTER. He remained very active in Mercy Hospital administrative service duties, including serving as Medical Staff President. In addition, he was the Chair of the Iowa Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council. He remained in practice as an Emergency Room physician until the time of his death. Continuing his education, he obtained his MBA at the University of Iowa's Executive MBA Program, in 2007.

Active in his community, Dr. Butzier served as the Medical Director for the Dubuque and Asbury Fire Departments, staff physician to the Dubuque County Jail, and the medical director for Kunkel & Associates. In 2014 he became a candidate for the Libertarian Party for the US Senate seat from Iowa. He was an instrument rated pilot, and was working on his FAA Certified Flight Instructor's license. He had logged more than 6 times the national average for private pilots, having flown over 1000 hours in just the last 6 years.

At the time of his death, Dr. Butzier was intent on building the Grand River Indoor Sports Facility. He had spent years planning his dream to benefit youth sports and create opportunities in the greater Dubuque area. He was in the process of purchasing the land and funding the project.

---

Source:

Obituaries. "Dubuque Today" by the DUBUQUE ADVERTISER (THE), Online: http://www.dubuquetoday.com/obituaries.cfm#Dr.%20Douglas%20J.%20Butzier,%20M.D.

Notable Local Deaths, Chronology 2014, Telegraph Herald, January 1, 2015, p. 2