He was born April 11, 1922 in Elgin, Iowa the son of William and Marie Grimm Butikofer. On June 1, 1943 he married Winona Yowell in Miami, Florida. She preceded him in death on May 14, 2001.

He was a 1939 graduate of LaGrange, (Mo) High School. He went on to attend the University of Illinois. He was a 1st Class Petty Officer in the Navy During WWII. He worked in farm equipment sales for Selby Implement. He was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Survivors include two sons, Gary Butikofer and wife Joy of Wisconsin; and Gregg Butikofer and wife Diane of Quincy; a daughter, Colleen Westberg and husband Jerry of Quincy; 11 grandchildren, Laban Butikofer and wife Linda, Summersville, MO, Reuben Butikofer, Richland Center, WI, Titus Butikofer, Conratch, WI, Joel and Johann Butikofer, both of Richaland Center, WI, Lori Biswell and husband Matt, Quincy, Gina Garippo and husband Paul, Glen Elyn, IL, Benjamin Westberg, Boonville, MO, Andrew Westberg and wife Jennifer, Indianapolis, IN, Timothy Westberg and Luke Westberg, both of Quincy; 7 great grandchildren, Abby and Blake Biswell, Rebekah and Jared Westberg, Brandt and Bennett Garippo, and Joyanna Butikofer, and two sisters, Elva Mae Gerst of Mediapolis, Iowa, and Ruth Moser of Wapello, Iowa.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Joel Butikofer, and a great granddaughter Emily Biswell in infancy.

Services will be on Monday, December, 17, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with the Rev. Larry Troxel officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday from 3-6 p.m. at Hansen-Spear Funeral Home. Burial will be in Quincy Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sunset Home, or Blessing Hospital Dialysis Unit in Edward's name.