Gerald Putz

GERALD A. PUTZ

Gerald Allen Putz, age 80, of Winona, MN, passed away March 23, 2016, surrounded by family at the Mayo Clinic Hospital - Methodist Campus in Rochester, MN.

He was born in Fountain City, WI on December 29, 1935, to Raymond Putz and Bernice Malles/Putz/Engel/Busch.  On August 25, 1959, he married his partner for life, Janet June Zastrow of Alma, WI.  Together they raised two children, Randy, age 54 and Jackie, age 55.

He spent his adult life as a truck tire salesman and after retirement spent several more years, driving a Winona City bus and regaling Winona State University students with any one of a variety of poems he himself wrote.  He and his son were avid golfers.  He also loved bowling, coaching and playing softball, playing cards with friends, and traveling to each of the 50 United States plus internationally to Japan, Iceland, Australia, and Europe with his wife and family.  He loved collecting John Deere memorabilia, and as with other family members was a proud owner of Green Bay Packers stock.

He is survived by his wife, Janet, children Randy, and Jackie (Roger) Ziegler, one grandson, Eric Ziegler, two brothers Robert Engel and William (Betty) Engel, and three sisters Rose Mary (John) Staige, Susan (Michael) Ellis, and Lucy (Anthony) Wolfe, along with many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his step-father Alfred Engel, his brother Ron Putz, and his sister Ruth Korder.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at St. Casimir’s Catholic Church in Winona.  The Reverend Jonathan Fasnacht will officiate.

Visitation will be at Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home, in Winona on Monday, March 28, 2016, from 4 to 7 pm with a wake service at 6:45 pm.  Visitation will also be held on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at St Casmir’s Catholic Church, from 9:30 am until the time of the Mass.

Following the Mass, a dinner will be served at the church.

Gerald will be laid to rest at the Alma Memorial Cemetery, Alma, WI, in a family ceremony.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Gerald’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.