Mr. Wayne Paffhausen passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at his home in Butte following a courageous battle with liver cancer.

Wayne was born Earl Wayne Paffhausen in Butte on January 4, 1944, the son of Earl Francis and Anna Mae (Eickmeyer) Paffhausen.  He attended local schools and graduated from Butte High School, where he was a standout athlete and a key part in the 1960 and 1961 State Football Champion Bulldog teams.  Following high school, he attended the University of Washington where he played football for the Huskies. His career was cut short when he suffered a broken neck. He later attended Montana Western in Dillon.

Wayne would return to Butte and was hired as a teacher by Butte School District #1. He was hired as the head football coach at Butte High School prior to the 1970 season. He served in that capacity for three seasons: 1970, 1971, and 1972. His 1971 Bulldogs compiled an 8-2 record and came within one game from reaching the state title game. The young men fought their hearts out on November 5, 1971, before falling to the Great Falls Bison 35-21. The game was played in a frigid blizzard.

Wayne was also a member of the Montana Officials Association. He officiated high school basketball from 1964 through 1977.

Wayne married his high school sweetheart, Patty McCaul, on December 26, 1963. They would raise four sons: Marc, Scott, Todd and Josh.

Both Wayne and his son Josh were inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of fame in 2013.

Wayne would go on to own and operate the Wayne Paffhausen and Sons Construction Company, building numerous buildings in Butte and Missoula, MT with his son, Todd, and right-hand man Jeff Cooper.

Wayne was a member of and past President of Butte Local Development, Jaycees Organization and the Montana Official Association.

Both Wayne and Patty enjoyed traveling around the state and country watching their son's and grandchildren's athletic careers.  Wayne could always be seen in the stands with a great big smile enjoying all their sporting events. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting, and every sporting event at Butte High.

He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Arta Mae, sister-in-law and brother-in-law John and Donna McCarthy, aunts Joyce Evankovich and Lois Turner, uncle Mickey Paffhausen, and cousin Hank Estabrook.

Surviving relatives include his wife Patty. Sons and their spouses: Marc Pafffhausen and Traci DelVecchio, Scott and Cindy Paffhausen, Todd and Amy Paffhausen, and Josh and Leigh Paffhausen. Grandchildren and their spouses: Tyler (Jacqueline) Paffhausen, Jaimee (Chuck) Richards, Shelby Paffhausen, Kade (Claire) Paffhausen, Kaci Paffhausen, Quinn Paffhausen, Libby Paffhausen, Perry Paffhausen, Vinny Paffhausen, Riggs Paffhausen, Dekker Paffhausen. Great-grandchildren: Charlie Richards, Addison Paffhausen and Rhett Wayne Paffhausen. Nieces and nephews: Sean and Tammy McCarthy and their children Evan and Molly, Shane and Mikelyn McCarthy and their children Kale (Keeley) and McCaul, Eddy and Heidi Stewart and their children Cole and Brityn. Wayne also leaves behind many cherished cousins and special friends that are too numerous to name.

Relatives and friends may call Saturday, May 3rd after 10:00am at the chapel of Duggan Dolan Mortuary. Funeral services will be celebrated at 11:00 am in the chapel. A reception will follow at the Copper King Convention Center (12:30-4:30 pm).