Joseph "Joe" Putnam, born October 17, 1945, to the late Stephen and Thelma (Davids) Putnam, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on August 21, 2024, surrounded by family. He battled a combination of health issues. Joe served in the US Army from 1963-1965, in the 561st Engineer Company in Thailand building roads during a portion of that time. He spent time in Alaska as an oiler in the Merchant Marine, then back in the Midwest in the construction trades—building and then road construction in  Local 139. In 1973 he married Rose Mary Onesti in the hospital chapel in New London. They moved to the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation in 1974 to be close to his elderly parents.

After their son was born in 1976, Joe, not wanting to be away from his family, quit working construction and started working as a logger on the Stockbridge and Menominee Reservations, eventually becoming a logging contractor himself. He loved working in the woods, primarily as a sawyer, though he owned and used many varieties of logging equipment over the years.  He loved horses, especially work horses, and purchased 'Bud', using him in special logging situations. Over the years, Joe often would stop by Dean Nolan's place and look at his horses and, from time to time, one or two or more would end up in the pasture at home. Thing was, just because he thought the horse looked good, didn't mean it was the best choice for the family! Consequently, there were many different horses on the farm over the years.

Joe enjoyed the sport of boxing and his son, Matt, boxed out of the Neopit Boxing Club. Joe and Matt traveled far and wide pursuing opportunities to box and made many friends along the way. Joe loved driving around with Danny Nordwig and Billy Johnson, looking at equipment lots or going to eat at the Golden Corral (a.k.a. The Hog Trough). Joe was also blessed by having his brother-in-law, Jack Demjen, living close by these last years.

Joe is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rosie; children, Shelly (Jeff) Swisher; Matthew (Danielle Kakwitch) Putnam; Regina (Guy) Williams; Sara (Micah Johnson) Putnam and Maggie (Jeremy) Bennett; sisters, Betty Schiel, Alice Marie (John) Demjen, and Judy (Ralph) Hartley; brothers-in-law, Leroy Onesti and Paul Onesti, and sister-in-law, Susie (Szutkowski) Onesti. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Beryl (Henry) Schwab, Virgie Putnam, Ramona (Eugene) Harder, Pauline (John) McCartan, and Beverly (Erwin) White; brother-in-law, Richard Onesti; sisters-in-law, Julie (Francois) Barroso and Marion (Don Paullin), plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Joe's grandchildren and great-grandchildren stopping in for visits was the highlight of his days. He was the best Grampa and his grandchildren adored him! He is further survived by his grandchildren, Lauren, Wita, McKayla, Caleb, Aubrey, Christopher, Guy Jr., Heavyn, Derick, Saychia, Lexsi, Joesie, Kendell, Micah, Stephen and Max; and great-grandchildren, Adam, Blaire, Paislee, Dariona, Makoa, Waawaa and Joseph.

A private graveside service was held. Though he will be greatly missed, we are blessed by knowing he is now healthy again in his eternal home with Jesus. Memorial donations can be directed to: Don Shire Ministries International, P.O. Box 826, Bedford, VA 24523.

'Not by works of righteousness which he had done, but according to His mercy' Jesus saved Joe.