Individual Details

Death

Obituary

Buffalo paper and it was also in the Monticello Times
29 June 2001

Ellsworth E (Gene) Putnam was born in Big Lake, Minnesota March 8, 1922 to Lester and Gladys (Stumbo) Putnam. His love for art and the outdoors played a major part of his entire life. He loved to hunt and fish and he was also an avid "rock hunter". He was featured "On the Road Again" with Jason Davis on his TV program in the 80's. It showed him with his rock machines, cut rocks, and Gene's original "rock pictures" and hand-made wooden frames. He and his wife, Vergie, were members of the Central Minnesota Mineral Club for many years. He displayed his pictures and cut rock at the State Fairgrounds where the Upper Midwest Gem and Mineral Show was held June 8-10, 1983. He also was asked to be an exhibitor at the Richfield Mineral Club at Southdale, Edina, Minn. on March 22, 1980.
Gene graduated from Big Lake High School in 1941. He was captain of their basketball team. He received an autographed salute from Stu Man in the Bleachers on WDGY for outstanding basketball ability on January 31, 1941. After graduation he worked for the railroad in Los Angeles, Calif. He volunteered for Army Air Corp and was honorably discharged almost 4 years later.
He worked for his father at the Big Lake Hardware for several years. On August 21, 1948 Gene was united in marriage to Vergie Lois Hedtke at St John's Lutheran Church in Buffalo by Pastor Berwald. The following year Gene was baptized and confirmed by Pastor Paul Hanke and joined St Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Monticello. He was a very active member and held various offices. He was on their building committee when their new church was built.
Gene attended Dunwoody Institute for their two-year program and graduated in 1951. He formed his own Distinctive Decorating" business doing paper hanging, wood graining, and interior woodwork and painting for 30 years.
He was a member of the Monticello Chamber of Commerce, The Sportsman's Club and the American Legion in Monticello.
For 11 and a half years Gene worked as a custodian in the Monticello Public Schools. He enjoyed the family's cabin on Indian Lake near Nevis, Minn. for many years.
Gene's many hobbies were curtailed when he developed Parkinson's and diabetic complications over the past five years. He leaves to mourn his wife of 52 years, son Kurt Putnam, San Francisco; daughter Tori Showalter, and son-in-law Michael, Golden Valley; two granddaughters Sophia (5) and Nichole (4); 3 sisters Donna Fredrickson and husband Gordon of Anoka, Kay Swanson and husband LeRoy of Cambridge; brother Jerry Putnam and brother-in-law Jack Kesper, both of Big Lake. His parents and two sisters Mertis Guppy and Beverly Kasper, preceded him in death.
Elsworth (Gene) Putnam, 79 of Monticello, died Wednesday evening June 20, 2001 at the Monticello-Big Lake Nursing Home of Monticello. Funeral services were held on Sunday, June 24, 1:30 pm at St Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church ... Interment at Big Lake Cemetery. Arrangements by Peterson Grimsmo Chapel of Monticello.
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Burial

Ellsworth “E. Gene” Putnam
BIRTH 8 Mar 1922Minnesota, USA
DEATH 20 Jun 2001 (aged 79)
BURIAL Big Lake CemeterySherburne County, Minnesota, USA
MEMORIAL ID 151895732 · View Source
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Married in 1948 to Vergie Hedtke. U.S. Army, World War II.
Inscription
E. Gene Putnam
U. S. Army
World War II
Mar 8, 1922
Jun 20, 2001
Created by: Jill Rudnitski
Added: 5 Sep 2015
Find A Grave Memorial 151895732
Hide citationFind A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 21 March 2018), memorial page for Ellsworth “E. Gene” Putnam (8 Mar 1922–20 Jun 2001), Find A Grave Memorial no. 151895732, citing Big Lake Cemetery, Sherburne County, Minnesota, USA ; Maintained by Jill Rudnitski (contributor 48258952) .
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