Obituary of Everett Putskey

Everett Gene Putskey, 81, Wisconsin Rapids, died Saturday, April 14, 2012 at the Wisconsin Rapids Care and Rehab Center. Services will be at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at Taylor, Vollert and Jennings Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids. Reverend John Grohs will officiate. Friends may call at Taylor, Vollert and Jennings Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 17 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM, and again on Wednesday from 10:00 AM until the time of services at the funeral home. Everett was born February 27, 1931 in Milwaukee to the late Edward and Belva (Crawford) Putskey. After Everett and the family returned to Waushara County, they farmed and he worked for the Wisconsin Axle Company (now known as Oshkosh Truck) in Oshkosh. Everett answered his country?s call on November 18, 1953 and served in the US Army, stationed in France during the Korean Conflict until October 29, 1955. After returning to civilian life, Everett married Wilma Buschke on May 25, 1957 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in the township of Springfield in Marquette County. They were blessed with the birth of their son Thomas. Though Everett and Wilma?s marriage later ended in divorce, they remained close friends throughout their lives. During this time, Everett worked for Kiekoffer Box Factory in Wild Rose until moving to Wisconsin Rapids in 1959 and starting work with Consolidated Papers Inc until retirement in 1991. After retirement, Everett joined the Elks Club (BPOE) and took up his loved sport of bowling once again. He loved to fish and actually built his first fishing boat which was a 12? out of wood. In his free time, Everett loved to tinker with small engines and would always help anyone in need. Everett loved spending time in his garden and took great care with his flower beds and his lawn was always in immaculate condition. He also loved to dance, especially polka and it?s been said that his sister and him could cut a good Charleston. Survivors include his son, Thomas (Jan Custer) of Vesper; grandchildren, Thomas II of Stevens Point and Ryan of Milwaukee; step-grandchildren, Valerie (Tim McMeeken) Custer-McMeeken of Stratford and Carla (Timothy Ellenbecker) Custer-Ellenbecker of Arpin; step-great-grandchildren, Sylvia and Daniel McMeeken and Lilly Ellenbecker; sister, Ardena (Keith) Blackmore of Tyler, Texas; former wife, Wilma Putskey of Wisconsin Rapids; aunts, Elda Kelly of Eau Claire and Betty Meyer of Plainfield; cousins, Robert (Annabelle) Allison of Plainfield and Joyce (Marv) Vriezen of Wautoma; and extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his special friend, Myra Ironside. Everett?s family would like to thank the staff of The Renaissance, the Wisconsin Nursing and Rehab Center and Ministry Home Care Hospice for their compassionate care over the years. They would like to especially thank all the friends and relative that have stopped and visited with Everett over these last 8 years.