James Allen Butenschoen's Obituary
James Allen Butenschoen, age 76, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away in his home on November 21, 2024. He was born August 15, 1948, in Stillwater, Oklahoma to Joseph Anthony Butenschoen and Anna Marie Matthews Butenschoen. Baptized and raised Catholic, even serving as an altar boy in Eufala, his faith and family molded him. After a loving and adventurous childhood on their cattle ranch, James graduated from Checotah High School in 1966. He then served his country as a helicopter mechanic for the Army in Germany during the Vietnam War. Continuing his education, he went to the University of Oklahoma earning his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 1973. His keen eye behind the camera never wavered. Always the cinephile, James then moved to Los Angeles and attended the University of Southern California, graduating with a Master of Fine Arts in Professional Writing in 1976.
Pivoting professionally, he went to work as a salesman for Porsche before being recruited by Systematics, Inc. He moved to Little Rock in January 1981 with his wife Janice and quickly felt at home in Arkansas, ready to raise his children. After a successful career in the corporate world, he purchased two campuses of Career Academy of Hair Design in Northwest Arkansas in 2006. With the help of a phenomenal staff, they expanded to a total of five campuses, transforming a small, struggling beauty school into a thriving, prosperous business. Jim married Becky Wilhite on August 5, 2013, in Van Buren, Arkansas, and they were planning their golden season.
The skies always summoned James. His father was a pilot in the Air Force, and Jim earned his own license once they moved to Little Rock. He was so proud to be able to fly his young family, carseats and all, and eventually passed his passion down to his son, Adam. In more recent years, he even found joy in his powered parachutes. Jim loved bird hunting, and had been committed to his annual pheasant hunt in South Dakota for decades. He was a proud member of Chenal and Pinnacle Country Clubs, ever refining his golf game. James was a voracious reader and passed that down to his daughter, Amy. As a father, he did his best to guide his children, always encouraging passion and persistence.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Marie Butenschoen as well as Millie Clark Butenschoen. Jim is survived by his wife, Becky Wilhite; children, Russell Butenschoen, Amy Galdamez and husband Gerardo, and Adam Butenschoen; stepchildren, Tennille Fanning and Wayman Bell; grandchildren, Leonardo Galdamez, Martha Galdamez, William Galdamez, Travor Butenschoen, and Evelyn Bell; brother, Michael Butenschoen; sisters, Jodi Benton and Linda Garmy; stepbrothers, Randy Clark and Bernard Clark, Jr.; aunt, Rosemary Karleskint; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 30, 2024, at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank or Elite Hospice. The family would like to thank the nurses and staff with Elite Hospice for their care of Jim. To leave a tribute, please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville.
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