Passing of Butterfield saddens Glenn Korff School of Music, Cornhusker Marching Band
calendar icon31 Oct 2018
Cornhusker Marching Band member Tyler A. Butterfield died Friday, October 26, 2018 as the result of a traffic accident in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Funeral service for Butterfield, 20, of Lincoln, formerly of Norfolk will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at the First Christian Church in Norfolk with Tim DeFor officiating. Interment will be at the Prospect Hill Cemetery, Norfolk. Visitation will be held 4:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 30 at the Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk is in charge of the arrangements.
“Tyler was well known and cherished throughout our program,” said Anthony Falcone, Director of the Cornhusker Marching Band and Associate Director of Bands at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Glenn Korff School of Music. “He was a part of many smaller communities within our larger Band community and thus touched many. Within the Marching Band he was a leader in the trumpet section, the largest in the Band, and a member of the Football Friday Pep Band, a small group from within the larger ensemble that played for Alumni and Gameday functions. He also participated in the Big Red Express and Campus Band. Tyler was a Brother of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, an organization dedicated to the betterment of Collegiate Bands. His fellow students will remember him for his friendship, loyalty and leadership. He had a particular way of making people feel welcome and at ease and could always make you laugh. He’ll be sorely missed.”
Douglas Bush, Assistant Director of Bands at Nebraska said, “All of my interactions with Tyler were genuinely positive. He was always pitching in to help. If you needed a group to perform for a game or added event, he was always willing to volunteer. Just last week, I thanked him for his help in setting up chairs for our pep band rehearsal. He was an engaged and highly involved band member. I’m going to miss his brand of enthusiasm.”
From his obituary:
Tyler was born on May 2, 1998 to Terry and Tammy (Young) Butterfield in Norfolk. He attended grade school at Bel-Air Elementary in Norfolk and then graduated from Norfolk High School in 2016. Tyler was currently a junior at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln majoring in Accounting.
Tyler was an outstanding young man who was very passionate about the things he loved. While he was an avid fan of video games, Star Wars, and (yes) Legos, his greatest love was for his family and friends, Cornhusker football, music, and his cat “Whiskers”. Tyler was a very talented musician who had an appreciation for all genres of music. He was self-taught on many musical instruments and even composed his own music. He played piano, drums, and trombone to name a few, but his most treasured instrument was his silver trumpet. Tyler took great pride in playing trumpet in the Cornhusker Marching Band and had a leadership role there. He was also in the UNL Big Red Express and Friday Night pep bands. While attending Norfolk High School, Tyler was involved in concert band, jazz band, and was a leader in the Pride of the Panthers Marching Band. He performed in All-State Band and various honor bands as well. Tyler set a high performance standard for himself and was an outstanding example for other students to follow. He was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa award his senior year (as well as many other music and academic awards throughout his high school career).
In addition to Tyler’s accomplishments in music, he was an exemplary student. He received many academic awards and had secured a constant spot on the Dean’s List while attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Business majoring in accounting. Most of his activities while living in the dorm at UNL involved studying, spending time with his bandmates, and keeping in touch with friends and family through online gaming. It wasn’t necessarily the gaming that was important but it was a way to keep in touch with family and friends who were far away.
Tyler traveled home to Norfolk often to be with his mom and sister. When in town, he always made time to visit his grandparents and would often play his trumpet for them. On holidays, he, along with his sister, Taylor, and cousins, Kayla and Adam, provided many impromptu music performances for the family. Tyler would play his trumpet or piano while the others played their orchestra string instruments. The time and talent he shared gave his family great joy and many treasured memories.
Tyler earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout in Troop 122 Norfolk in 2016. He continued to live his life as an outstanding example of everything an Eagle Scout stands for and lived each day by the scout oath and law. Tyler’s dad passed away in 2017. Tyler overcame the difficulties and tragedies life can bring and still managed to be an outstanding young man living his life to the fullest and purposefully every day.
Tyler was a member of The National Honor Society, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the National Society of Leadership and Success, the Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma National Academic Honor Societies, and was a member of the Honorary Band Fraternity Kappa Kappa Psi. He was a recipient of the David Scholarship, the Ronald James Rotherham Scholarship, and other scholarships while at UNL.
Tyler worked at the Norfolk Hy-Vee East store and, after his sophomore year in college, did a summer internship with the accounting firm of Sehi & Associates in Norfolk.
Tyler was an avid sports fan. While he was also a fan of the Detroit Lions and Golden State Warriors, his greatest pride and joy was his beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers. He was truly a Husker through and through.
Tyler had an easy way about him. He was not boisterous or rude. He was a loving, kind, caring, compassionate, and thoughtful young man with integrity, a subtle humor, and a quick wit. While smiling and posing for pictures was never his favorite activity, he always wore a real smile and could easily make you laugh. He was a delightful young man and beautiful human being who was dearly loved by family and friends and will be truly missed.
Survivors include his mother Tammy Butterfield of Norfolk, sister Taylor Butterfield of Norfolk, paternal grandparents Dean and Judy Butterfield of Norfolk, Maternal grandparents Gale and Elaine Young of Norfolk, Uncles Dan Young of Battle Creek, Stan Young of Battle Creek, Aunt Jeanie (Mitch) Kester of Norfolk, Uncle John Butterfield of California, cousins Nic (Nicole) Young and their daughter Adalyn, Kayla Kester, and Adam Kester, and his cat Whiskers.
Tyler was preceded in death by his father Terry Butterfield.
Pianist for the service will be Bill Miller and trumpeter for the service will be Dr. Darryl White.
Casket Bearers will be Adam Kester, Nic Young, Colin Wood, Dan Young, Stan Young, Mitch Kester, and John Butterfield.
Honorary casket bearers will be Tyler’s fellow classmates, Boy Scout Troop 122, and the Nebraska Cornhusker Marching Band Members.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for memorials to be made to the family for a later designation.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.