Roy E. Puterbaugh

ST. JOSEPH – Roy Puterbaugh, 90, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, April 29, 2007 at Jordan’s Nursing Hone in Bridgman. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 3, at Peace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph. Pastors Paul Koehneke and Franz Brandenburg will officiate. Burial with military rites will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Friends may visit with family Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home in St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to the church. Roy was an active member of the community, dedicated to his family and served his country. He was a Navy Quartermaster 2nd Class in World War II, serving in the Asiatic Pacific and African Campaign. Upon return, he served in the Naval Reserves for 10 years. He married Beatrice Ladwig in 1942, and she followed him to San Francisco, where he was stationed for part of his service. He retired from Whirlpool Corp. He spent many hours with his children and grandchildren. He was an assistant scoutmaster, went for picnics on the beach with his children, took many camping and fishing trips, traveled extensively, and cheered on his grandchildren as he watched them play sports. He was an avid sports fan and athlete. He played basketball and fast pitch softball for numerous teams in the area and served as Trinity Lutheran Church’s assistant basketball coach. He loved the church and served in various positions at both Peace and Trinity. He also gave back to others as a volunteer at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph. Roy was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Beatrice, in 2005, and three brothers. He is survived by two daughters and a son, Kathleen (Peter) Paul of Wellston, Sharon (Steve) Pontius of Lawrence and Steven (Beth) Puterbaugh of Germantown, Tenn. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.starks-menchinger.com