Virginia M. Putzer's Obituary
Virginia Mae Putzer, age 90, of Oshkosh, passed away on Friday, July 15, 2022 at Aurora Medical Center. She was born on November 3, 1931 to Charles and Veronica (Habel) Binder in Oshkosh. She grew up in Oshkosh and at the family’s cottage on Lake Butte Des Morts.
A 1949 graduate of Oshkosh High School, Virginia attended and graduated from Oshkosh State College in 1953 with an education degree. She then taught elementary school in Racine until the time of her marriage to Albert H. Putzer on July 9, 1955 at St. Vincent Church. They were married for 51 years before he died in 2007.
Virginia resumed teaching elementary grades at Sacred Heart Grade School in Oshkosh from 1978 to 1993. At that same time, she pursued her Master’s degree in Education at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; completing it in 1986 (the same year her son Jim graduated from UW-O and her son Chuck graduated from Lourdes Academy High School). This triple graduation was featured in an article in the Oshkosh Northwestern.
When she wasn’t busy making headlines, Virginia took to the outdoors and spent nearly each and every summer tent camping in the great forests of northern Wisconsin. Those lucky enough to join her and Bob Uecker around the campfire were well acquainted with her willingness to do the camp dishes, along with her love for red wine and homemade pizza.
Virginia was also an avid adventurer and daredevil who spent her time zip lining in the cloud forests of Costa Rica, flying over the Great Barrier Reef (at the age of 85), and daring to pray that the Brewers would finally win the World Series.
While at home, Virginia enjoyed scrapbooking, dropping puzzle pieces, and reading. She also had a knack for collecting things she couldn’t actually use, including Brewers Racing Sausages, anything purple, and the last VHS tapes in existence. While her collections were admirable, anyone who was ever welcomed into her home mostly remembered the bulletin board proudly displayed in her living room that featured photos of friends and family with upcoming birthdays.
Above all, however, Virginia was known for her energetic and outspoken attitude while playing cards and Scrabble. The quick wit, selflessness, compassion, and most of all, the love she dealt to the table will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Survivors include children, Mark (Nancy) Putzer and Gerard (Diane) Putzer, both of Appleton, Patricia (Calvin) Neubauer of Oshkosh, James (Carol Schlaefer) Putzer of Fond Du Lac and Charles (Meghan Walsh) Putzer of St. Paul, MN, son-in-law Chris Schmidt, “like a daughter” Steph Harmelink, grandchildren Josh (Andrea) Putzer, Jennifer (Eric) Balkman, Maria (David) Mooers-Putzer, Phil (Lori) Putzer, Ben (Kristi) Neubauer, Alex (Lydia) Neubauer, Zak (Brooke) Neubauer, Dan Putzer, Mattison Putzer, Mahriana Putzer, Maura Putzer, and Sam Putzer and great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Albert, daughter Kathy, infant daughter Marie Camilla, her parents, in-laws, and both her and Albert’s siblings.
A Memorial Mass celebrating Virginia’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at St. Jude the Apostle Parish/Sacred Heart Site (510 Knapp St, Oshkosh). Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the service starting at 11:00 a.m. Ennichement will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery columbarium later. For the safety of all, the family requests masking if attending. Masks will be provided if needed, as well as hand sanitizer. Please respect the wishes of the family, we want this to be a great remembrance of Virginia. Thank you in advance.
Memorials may be designated in Virginia’s name to Lourdes Academy High School https://lourdesacademyoshkosh.org/lourdes-fund or St. Jude the Apostle Parish.
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