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Wayne C. Puttmann, 82, of Eau Claire, died on September 16, 2006 after several weeks at Hospice House, under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services, Wausau.
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Wayne was born to Roy and Clara (Reinking) Puttmann on March 10, 1924 on the family farm near Kingsley, Iowa. He attended a one-room country school and went on to graduate from Pierson High. He began college at Iowa State where he met his future wife, Harriet Strange. Their education was interrupted by the war. He entered the Marine Corps in 1944, and Harriet followed him to Camp LeJeune where they were married. After his discharge as a 1st Lieutenant, he finished his undergraduate work at Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa.
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Until 1956, Wayne taught high school science at Austin, Minnesota and studied in the summers. He obtained his Master's Degree from Iowa State and a Doctorate in Education from the University of North Dakota. He was a professor in the Department of Education at South Dakota State, Brookings, from 1956 to 1963. Wayne moved on to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1963 and remained there until his retirement in 1989, first as a professor of secondary education and then as Director of Placement. He ended his career where he liked to be the most, in the classroom. |
Wayne loved teaching and watching his students become good teachers. He enjoyed young people of all ages, from the babies and toddlers he rocked to the high school and college students he engaged in long, encouraging conversations about their goals and plans. He was a person of faith who loved his church family. Wayne enjoyed travel and camping with his wife and family. He looked forward to fishing trips and working on construction and
woodworking projects with "the guys" in his family. He was a beekeeper for many years.
Wayne is reunited now with his wife who died on April 6 of this year and his brother and sister-in-law, Dwight and Sally Puttmann, whose deaths were especially hard for him.
Wayne will be missed by his children, Lynne (Lou) Santangelo of Wausau, Paul (Deborah) Puttmann of Olyphant, Penn., Sharon (Terrence) Hanlon of Madison; grandchildren Maria (Robert) Barrett, Dina (Charles) Mitchell, Sara (Andrew) Gregorich, David (Tracy) Santangelo, Megan Marshall, Carla and Molly Puttmann, and Joli, Maia, Zak, and Sarah Hanlon; great-grandchildren, Deja Mitchell, Ian and Cole Gregorich, Haley Puttmann, Natalie and Louis Barrett, Grace Santangelo and MaeLi Hamilton; and his nieces Sandy (Matt) Salmon and Kay (Brian) Michaelson and their children.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran for the Jamaica Mission or for Youth Mission Trips.
A memorial service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, September 23, 2006 at Trinity Lutheran, 1314 E. Lexington Blvd., Eau Claire, with Pastor Kurt Jacobson officiating. Friends may call from 3 to 4 p.m. at the church and are encouraged to stay for a meal after the service.
Family and friends may send condolences online at www.fullerspeckien.com. Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home (715-832-5002) is assisting the family with arrangements.
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