Jean Estelle Puddy

Our precious mother was welcomed into the arms of Christ on His birthday Christmas Day with her loving family at her side. Jean Estelle Puddy, age 87, was born in St. Paul, MN on December 14, 1924 to Basil and Dora (Nelson) Tuttle and grew up in Balsam Lake. As a young girl, she enjoyed skiing and hunting with her father. The family moved to Menasha and Jean took a position at Kimberly Clark during the war. She was united in marriage to Marcellus Wassenberg who preceded her in death after a few years of marriage. Jean then married Robert Puddy (Pops) and raised their five daughters in Menasha. Jean and Bob built their dream home for retirement in Spring Lake (between Redgranite and Wautoma). Unfortunately, Bob passed before he could enjoy their home. Mom moved to Spring Lake after Bob’s death in 1988 and developed many treasured friendships. Mom was very active in St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Redgranite, along with the Homemakers Club and became their president. She loved to go out for lunch and spend time with her friends. As her health slowly declined, she sold her home to her friend Mattie, who then built a bakery on the home site. We think the agreement with Mattie was that Mom would receive Mattie’s famous sugar cookies for life – which she did with love. Mom then moved back to Menasha until her passing.

Mom loved to cook for her family and friends, go fishing with Pops and her daughters, gardening, watching the birds, bowling and most of all her family. She especially liked to go fishing in Canada with her daughters Kim and Ginny and made many trips to this area. She was fortunate enough to go to Alaska fishing and then enjoyed an Alaskan cruise to enjoy the beauty there with her family.

Jean was a loving mother and friend to many and will be deeply missed by her daughters Jackie (Tom) Baldwin of Sherwood, Ginny (Dale) Frank of Neenah, Cindi (Norman) Thiel of Neenah and Kim (Steve) Bonneville of Menasha; son-in-law Ray VandenBoogart of Appleton; brother-in-law Everett Hilgers of Florida; her grandchildren Laurie Baldwin and Sean McElrath of Kaukauna, Brian (Sarah) Baldwin of Pleasant Prairie, Shane Thiel, Derik Thiel, Jensen Lewis and their son Kayden; her great-grandchildren Alyssa Baldwin, Kate and Morgan; Bryce, Trent, Tyson, Luke, Adam and Brock Baldwin; along with many loving and caring nieces and nephews. Along with her husband’s and parents, Jean was also preceded in death by her daughter Susan VandenBoogart, sister Dorothy (Sis) Hilgers, and her brother and sister-in-law Dick and Elaine Tuttle.

We want to thank those staff at Sterling House and Crestwood who were very caring and helpful to our Mom—Tiffany, Mandy, Courtney, Danielle just to name a few. There are many others who assisted her and helped her as well. There are no words other than thank you to our sister Ginny, who coordinated our Mother’s care and was truly instrumental in caring for Mom over the last several years, making sure that what Mom wanted and needed was there for her—especially Ginny’s devotion to her.

A Funeral Service to celebrate Jean’s life will be held at 11:30 am on Thursday, December 29, 2011, at Martens-Laemmrich Funeral Home, 312 Milwaukee Street, Menasha. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the hour of the service at the funeral home with lunch to follow. Interment will take place at Foster Road Cemetery, Red Granite, Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established.