Wilbur E. Goulette, Jr.

RUTLAND

Wilbur E. “Butchie” Goulette, Jr. 1970-2024

Having lived a joy-filled life in which every opportunity to spend time laughing with family and friends was taken, Wilbur “Butchie” Goulette, age 53, left us too soon on March 14, 2024, for his next great adventure.

Butchie was born in Rutland, Vermont, on May 6, 1970, to Patricia (Ettori) Kulig and Wilbur Goulette, Sr., and spent his childhood growing up with his beloved sister Kerry (Goulette) Coarse. They were like two peas in a pod, inseparable from day one and the best of friends.

After graduating from MSJ, Butchie worked full-time to put himself through Castleton University, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Business. It was while he was working at Peppino’s Restaurant in Killington that he met the love of his life, Mary Ann Nienaltowski. It was love at first site on April Fool’s Day in 1994. They married at the Lilac Inn and spent the next 25+ years making each other laugh.

Butchie and Mary Ann first lived in the Burlington area where Butchie honed his gift for gab as a salesperson, while also perfecting his amazing ziti vodka for the friends who frequented their house in Malletts Bay. In 2000, they were blessed with the birth of their first child, William, and soon after moved back to the Rutland area where Butchie started his career at Velco, working there for over 20 years. Butchie and Mary Ann welcomed Matthew, their second bundle of joy, in 2002, and moved to their current residence on Grover Drive in Rutland Town.

Butchie was the life and love of every party and family gathering. You could hear his infectious laugh throughout the house, especially after telling one of his many infamous (sometimes inappropriate) jokes or stories. Butchie loved blasting and singing along to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, always encouraging others to join in. He loved spending time with his niece and nephews. Sleepovers at the Goulette’s were filled with late nights playing darts, cards, sharing words of wisdom or whatever else Butchie could think of to entertain them.

He was also well-loved by the neighborhood kids and spent innumerable hours teaching them music, playing games, and instructing
them in the art of storytelling. Butchie found his niche in coaching starting with his sons in the backyard, then extending it to their youth sports teams at Rutland Town, eventually joining up with his coaching mentor and friend, Jack Rogers. Together they coached the AAU Bandits, a team of young men he remained close with throughout his life.

Butchie loved playing golf and poker. His knowledge of politics and random facts made him a force to be reckoned with on trivia night. He embraced any opportunity to hang out and play games with family and friends, even if it meant throwing darts with his left hand so others had a chance to win. You’d often hear Butchie exclaim, “One more game!”

Butchie joins his father, Wilbur “Will” Goulette, Sr., his grandparents, Howard and Viola Goulette, Francis and Margaret Ettori, and his Godson, Robbie Ettori.

He leaves behind a legion of friends and family to carry on his legacy of laughter, compassion, and an amazing work ethic, these include his wife, Mary Ann; his sons, Willie and Matthew; his mother, Patty, and stepfather, Paul Kulig; his sister, Kerry, and her husband Kevin Coarse, and their children Zachary and Ethan; his brother, Andrew Kulig, sister, Hilary Kulig, and her husband, Ryan Hauptman; and his sisters-in-law, Barbara Nienaltowski and Monica (Nienaltowski) Clark, her husband, John, and their three children, JJ, Jack, and Leocadia.

A celebration of Butchie’s life will take place on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 1 pm at Christ the King Church in Rutland, Vermont. Donations in Butchie’s honor can be made to: The Butch Goulette Youth Athletic Fund at https://gofund.me/896f615c