RACINE – Stanley Putra, Age 68, fought a brave battle against cancer and passed away surrounded by his family at Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine on Sunday, August 12, 2018.
Stanley (Stashu) was born in Racine, WI on May 8, 1950 to the late Peter and Anne (nee: Tajnai) Putra. He was a lifelong resident of Racine and grew up in Lake Park. As a child, he was proud to serve as an altar boy at Holy Trinity. Growing up, he enjoyed working on electronics with his dad. He graduated from St. Catherine’s High School in 1968. He served with pride in the U.S. Army as an infantryman, in the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam from 1971 to 1972.
He was employed at the US Postal Service for 31 years, serving as a clerk, mail truck driver, and mechanic. He was active in the American Postal Workers Union AFL-CIO Local 778 in Racine, and served as Union President for many years. After retiring from the Post Office, he ran Apex Electronics, a small electronics business in Kenosha. He also went back to UW-Parkside to finish his bachelor’s degree that he had started working on before going to Vietnam. He studied Spanish, and was frequently the oldest student in his classes, but he liked the challenge and all the attention.
Stanley married Janice (nee: Kern) in 1971, and they went on to have 4 children together. Stan’s biggest joy in life was his family. Stan took his family on many adventures and road trips, including to the family cabin Up North, to Chicago, Florida, and Tennessee. He and Jan travelled quite a bit around the U.S. and were able to go to Costa Rica as well. He enjoyed meeting people and learning about different cultures. He valued family dinners, enjoyed movies and classic 60’s music, and liked going to ham radio fests with his dad and son.
Stan was a character, always enjoyed a good joke and being a practical joker, and liked to hear “the gossip”. He liked talking about politics, and was very generous in many ways, including in giving his opinion. Stan liked old cars and was a big Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. Throughout his life, he enjoyed playing cards with his friends and family. All of his children and grandchildren learned to play cribbage, and even up until 2 weeks before his passing, he was playing cribbage with his kids. Most of all he was a loving husband and father who will be dearly missed. His number one concern on his deathbed was that God would take care of his family.
Survivors and joys of his life include his wife of 47 years Janice, and his children: Jessica (Tom Kokkelenberg) Putra; John (Jenny) Putra; Sarah (Chris) Schulte; Cristina Putra; and his grandchildren, Colin, Jillian, and Peter; Brothers Joseph (Lori) Putra and Peter (Diane) Putra; as well as many other relatives and friends.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center for their care throughout his illness, and the nurses in the ICU at Ascension All Saints for taking care of him and making him comfortable in his last days.
Stan’s family honored his wishes and held a private service in the funeral home, with interment and military honors at his final resting place in the Southern Wisconsin Veteran’s Cemetery in Union Grove. Memorial donations in Stanley’s name can be made to: Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin, 1624 Yout Street, Racine, WI 53404.
Edward and Janet says
Dear Jessica and Tom
We share your sorrow and wish we had met your Dad, Stan; he sounds like a very interesting person and we shared many commonalities from altar boy on up. We hope to hear more about him in the near future.
For now, your family needs each other in their sadness and memories.
Steve Tajnai says
Take care Stashu! I am glad we got together a short time ago for lunch with my dad, my wife, Mike, Dean and his wife. We were able to talk, laugh and spend some time tigether. We always made each other laugh when we got together. RIP.
David Voltz says
Sorry for your lost.
Mary Jo Hart (Haakenson) says
I am so sorry to hear about Stan. Great guy and great friend since High School. Just heard from him on the 10th. I know how much you are going to miss him. Just remember how much he loved all of you, especially the love of his life, his wife. O will never forget him,
Dean Tajnai says
A prayer for Cousin Stashu:
Eternal rest grant on to him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him, may his soul and the souls of the all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in peace, Amen.
May your face O Lord and the happiness of eternal life shine splendidly before his eyes!
May Stashu not worry about his family, for you O Lord will faithfully protect and always bless our cousins Janice, Jessica, John, Sarah, Christina and their families.
Our love and blessings for Stashu and his family,
Linda, Dean, Kathy, Juliana and Theresa Tajnai.
Paul Bialecki says
Sorry for your loss.
Dave Fogarty says
Stan was a great friend and we always had a fun time reminiscing about the good-old-days whenever we’d meet up. He will be missed by many.
The Weeden Family says
Our deepest sympathy upon the passing of Stan.
His kindness, generosity and friendship will not be forgotten.
With Heartfelt condolence to Jan and the Putra family.
Peace and God Bless.
Barb Maciejewski WI APWU Auxiliary says
Stan was a kind and generous man. Thanks for sharing him with us. He will be missed.
Mike Ptaschinski says
Stan was a friend & classmate of mine at St. Cat’s. Not only did we share some classes, but he sat behind me in Home Room all four years, as things were very alphabetized back then. I was hoping to see him at our 50th high school reunion next month, and was so sorry to have come across his obituary just today. I remember him as this big, soft-spoken, polite, unassuming guy who was friendly to his classmates, respectful to the nuns and focused on his schoolwork. I am so sorry for your loss. He was one of the good guys, a true gentleman, and I would have loved to have told him so in person.
Jeremy Hurm says
Sarah,
I’m sorry for your loss. Your father sounds like a great American. May he rest in peace.
Anonymous says
Thank You Stan for being my friend. I will miss U n I just found out U left.
Ur Friend n comrade
Jeff Peterson
Michael says
Hay Stash, I really miss you a lot.