Charlotte L. Butikofer

Charlotte L. Butikofer

Cedar Rapids

Charlotte Leigh (Ohrt) Butikofer died unexpectantly due to her health challenges with Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at UnityPoint St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be Friday, December 19, 2025, 4 PM – 7 PM at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Committal service will be Saturday, December 20, 2025, 9:30 AM at Illyria Community Church, Elgin. Memorial service will be Saturday, December 20, 2025, 2 PM at Hope United Church of Christ, Hiawatha. Both services will be live streamed on each church’s Facebook pages.

Charlotte was born May 1, 1977, at St. Francis Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa, to Randall Richard and Cynthia Sue (Van Gelder) Ohrt. Charlotte grew up as a farm girl on the family farm near Reinbeck and attended Reinbeck Community Schools. While a high school student, she was a varsity cheerleader for football and basketball, sang in the choirs or accompanying, played French horn, was editor of the school paper, and participated in speech and drama. She graduated from Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School in 1995. She loved showing sheep at the Grundy County Fair. Her communication projects were often selected for the Iowa State Fair. Due to her excellent piano skills at nine years old, she was cast as Amaryllis in the Reinbeck Theater Guild’s performance of The Music Man. She continued playing piano, providing music for worship services at Reinbeck United Church of Christ and at Trinity United Methodist Church, Riverside, from 1997-2011.

She graduated from Cottey College, Nevada, Missouri, in 1997 with an Associate Arts degree. She originally focused on journalism and was editor of the award-winning Spectrum student newspaper. She then transferred to the University of Iowa. She played the mellophone in the University of Iowa Marching Band, where she met a sousaphone player, Eric Butikofer. They both graduated from the University of Iowa in 2000 with education degrees. Subsequently they moved to the Cedar Rapids area and have remained there ever since. Charlotte and Eric were married on August 7, 2004, in Reinbeck. After earning her music endorsement, Charlotte taught at Garfield Elementary, St. Pius Elementary, River Ridge Kids, and concluded her teaching career at St. Jude Elementary, all in Cedar Rapids. She also taught piano for several years.

Charlotte and Eric enjoyed long-distance motorcycle trips. Her greatest joy was the births of her sons, Aaron and Andrew. She rarely missed their many athletic, music, academic, and drama events. She was their biggest cheerleader and “videographer”. She enjoyed family camping adventures and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeye football team. In March 2025, the Butikofer family went on an unforgettable adventure to New York City. Aaron said it was the best trip ever.

Charlotte was a member of P.E.O. Chapter LF and Hope United Church of Christ. Charlotte chronicled Hope’s history in 2014 for their 50th anniversary, chose the Christmas programs, and sang in the church choir. Her faith was strong and her spirit stronger than her body allowed.

Charlotte is survived by her husband, Eric; sons Aaron and Andrew; her mother, Cynthia Ohrt; her sisters Suzanne (Dale) Felton, her daughter, McKenna; Angela (Chris) Snyder, her children, Carter and Allie; her mother-in-law, Donna Butikofer; her sisters-in-law, Emily (Jim) Strasen, her daughters, Lindsey and Laura; Evonne (Eria) Sabiiti; and uncles, aunts, and cousins. Charlotte was preceded in death by her father, Randall Ohrt; her father-in-law, Richard Butikofer; her grandparents, Thomas & Arlene Van Gelder and Richard & Margaret Ohrt; and her nephew, Ian Joseph Felton.

The family is extremely grateful to Charlotte’s health care team at University of Iowa, Angie of Balanced Fitness and Health, Jeanne of Comfort Care, and her family and many friends, who helped Charlotte live an active and fulfilling life.

The family suggests memorials in her memory towards research through the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation at https://give.myotonic.org/charlotteb or to the family, who will make contributions in her memory to the fine arts and athletic programing at Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School and Cedar Rapids Washington High School.