Wesley "Butch" John Gaul, Sr.

Wesley “Butch” Gaul

DORSET-Wesley J. Gaul, Sr., 86, passed away on September 26, 2024, in U.H. Geauga Medical Center.

Butch was born in Geneva, Ohio on July 29, 1938, the son of Matthew and Arlene (Stanfield) Gaul.

He was a proud graduate of Geneva’s Spencer High School Class of 1956.

On November 16, 1958, Butch married Geraldine M. Westenfelder, his loving and devoted wife of 31 years.  Very sadly, Gereldine passed away in 1989.  He later married Kitt Taylor-Gaul who passed away in 2006.

Butch was known in northeast Ohio as one of the most talented and hardest working brick masons around.  He was a member of the Bricklayers Union Local 42; he worked for Buckeye Masonry for 20 years and then founded Gaul Masonry, which he proudly owned and operated for the remainder of his career.  He laid his last brick at the age of 84 in 2022.  His career as a bricklayer led him to meet some of the best friends a man could ever ask for; he loved his job and the people he worked for, and those who worked by his side.

Butch was a passionate outdoorsman.  He was an avid and accomplished hunter, fisher, and trapper; he received the Boone & Crockett award for his trophy whitetail bucks and 3 Ohio Big Buck awards.  He hunted all over the country and was able to complete the Wild Turkey Grand Slam award for bagging all 4 American turkey subspecies.  He loved all his Cleveland sports teams and was a loyal fan, win or lose.  He loved his pets, his dogs Willie and Diva and his cats Cheddar and Peewee.  Butch was very proud of his kids and his grandkids.

He is survived by his loving family; his children: W. John (Cindy) Gaul, Daniel (Phyllis) Gaul, Sherry (Ron Lesko) Lesko, James (Rachel Cosette Holly) Gaul, Bobbie Jo (Marty) Carlton, and Greg (Gabby) Gaul; 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; his loving companion of the past 18 years, Shirley Miller (as well as her children and grandchildren); and his step-children (and their families): Julie Hocevar, Pam Smith and Tim Shadow.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Geraldine and second wife Kitt; his son Marty “Mo” Gaul who passed away in 1983; and his brother Matthew “Mo” Gaul.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 at Fleming-Billman Funeral Home, 49 W. Jefferson Street, Jefferson, Ohio; a short service of remembrance will begin that evening at 7:00 p.m.  Graveside funeral services will be held Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Jefferson’s Oakdale Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wesley "Butch" John Gaul, Sr., please visit our floral store.