The Journey of Our Little Sailboat: A Biographic Glimpse of the Short Life of Jerry Lynn Butikofer

The Journey of Our Little Sailboat is a children’s book about two kids, a seven-year-old girl, Missy Jean, and her three-year old brother, Jerry Lynn. These two adventuresome children built a little wooden sailboat and launched it down the Turkey River on July 19, 1985. The boat contained a message on board in hopes that someone just might find it someday.

The story unfolds as you read about the launch of their sailboat and continues as you learn about the life of Jerry Lynn, a life that was shortened by tragedy. Unfortunately, on July 1st, Jerry Lynn and his younger brother Aaron Lee were involved in a traumatic motor vehicle accident. Ten days later, Jerry Lynn passed away. His journey of his life was over, and his sailboat had not yet been found.

Authored by Lon Butikofer, the children’s father, The Journey of Our Little Sailboat is dedicated to his oldest daughter, Melisa Jean, his younger brother Aaron Lee, and on behalf and in memory of his oldest son, Jerry Lynn Butikofer who together built, launched, and sailed their little wooden sailboat on that summer day, in July of 1985.