Donna Putman
February 14th, 1925 - August 1st, 2009
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Donna's Obituary
Donna Rosemary Putman, age 84, of South Haven, died August 1, 2009 at home.
Always a sweetheart, Donna was born Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1925 in Columbia City, Indiana to Earl and Nellie Chapman. Donna had many fond memories of growing up on the family farm with her six sisters and one brother. She graduated from Columbia City Beauty College before marrying Robert Putman September 20, 1946. Donna and Bob relocated to South Haven in 1967 where they co-owned (with George and Elizabeth Boardman) and operated Wolverine Hardware for many years.
Many remember Donna for the Christmas candies she and Bob made and gave away at the hardware store every holiday season, her addictive chocolate chip cookies and unparalleled scratch-made pies. A great wife, Donna displayed her great love and resolve during the seven years she cared for Bob after his diagnosis with ALS. A wonderful mother and grandmother, Donna instilled in her children a love of children, reading, games and crafts. Donna leaves this world a champion, having never, ever lost a footrace to any of her children.
She is preceded in death by her husband Robert, first child Michael, sisters Ethel and Hazel, and brother William.
She is survived by one daughter – Kathy (Rob) Bennett of South Haven, MI., three sons- Dennis (Claire) of Peoria, Il., David (Joanne) of South Haven, MI., and Timothy (Ana) of Grand Rapids, MI., - twelve grandchildren- Jason (Nicole) Putman, Jessica (Shannon) Snow, Jamie (Karen) Putman, Emily (Dave) Davich, Cal Bennett, Matt Bennett, Lauren Bennett, Stellaluna Putman, and Paloma Putman, three step-grandchildren – Chris (Megan) Horan, Jill (Srdan) Selimbegovic, Brandy Horan, four sisters – Carol Schinbeckler of Greenfield, In., Helen Orcutt of Ft. Wayne, In., Hilda Diffendorfer of Ft. Wayne, In., and Jeanette Meyer of Columbia City, In.
Memorials may be made to South Haven’s Hospice at Home or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 5th from 6 to 8 P.M. at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home. Kindly share your thoughts and memories on the family’s online guest book at www.FilbrandtFFH.com.
The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven 637-0333.
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