John Michael Putnam often known for his signature smile on wheels and compassionate heart, passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 14, 2024, at age 71 following a brief illness at Union Hospital in Dover, Ohio. With him was his two devoted sisters and their loving husbands, Peggy (Steve) Snyder and Martha (Bob) Casterline. John was born in Lancaster, Ohio on September 12, 1952, to the late John C and Nellie (McCoun) Putnam.
John spent his childhood running and playing in the creeks and woods where he grew up in Port Washington Ohio. Like most boys growing up in the 60’s he was involved in the Boy Scouts with knots to tie and wooden race cars. At home he played sports, built forts, tents and tree houses.
By the age of 12 his gait became awkward, and hands and toes began to curl under. Children’s Hospital physicians tried numerous surgeries with no success. John never gave up. He withstood bullies at school and throughout his life with true grit always determined to be the best he could be and always had time for others. He graduated High School at Indian Valley in Gnadenhutten Ohio and joined his Dad and Uncle as an employee of Alsco Anaconda. In the years that followed John worked at Hutchingson’s gas station and owned and operated Main Street Ceramics in Newcomerstown Ohio. In his 30’s John was finding it more difficult to walk and was finally confined to a wheelchair by his mid-30’s. There was no actual name given to John for his disease. Some thought Muscular Dystrophy or a form of; however, it was never confirmed.
John found love with three-woman Laura (Wilson) Adamo, Ellie (McCoun) Jones and Debra Graham. Sometimes love is fleeting but from each relationship John’s smile never faded.
His hobbies included collecting small figures that were displayed in every room of his home and often given out as gifts. He loved cooking and was a true Meals on Wheels in his neighborhood. He loved working in his wood shop. If he would hear of a family in need of a small porch or steps, he used his CAD program to design and then cut the pieces out and borrow the hands and talent of friends and family to put the cut pieces together to the homeowner’s delight. He loved his two cats Rascal and Boots. He had an unselfish, hardworking nature only ended with death. He would spend his last dime to help others in need. John was the ultimate personification of all the good things we were taught as children.
John loved his many brothers and sisters through the Jehovah Witnesses. He would find himself often in scriptural debate with his sister Peggy, who, like his family did not share the same viewpoints. (1 Peter 5:3 ESV Not domineering over those in your charge by being examples to the flock.) Together each found common ground by setting examples of shared love and respect for one another with as much wisdom and prayer as possible given. John gave great hugs and always told his sisters he appreciated and loved them with their routine visits. “We will never deny the pain we carry, but we would like to remember him as a blessing and a lesson. We want to treasure the life he shared with us over the pain that his death has brought us. You will live forever in our hearts.”
Thank you to his many caretakers over the years such as Lisa and Sue. Thank you Marchena who drove John by his childhood home on his final earthly journey. To the physicians, nurses and staff at Union Hospital who cared so well for John and his family. Thank you, Don Petrullo and Landon, for being with John.
Surviving are John’s brother and sisters: Beryl (Jeff) Caley, Jerome, Roberta (Kevin) Wheatley, Margaret/Peggy (Steve) Snyder, Mark, Phillip and Martha (Bob) Casterline and numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. Preceded in death was Benjamin Putnam, Ellie (McCoun) Jones, Jamie J. (Jay) Caley, Aunts and Uncles of the Putnam and Dillon families.
To honor John’s wishes a memorial service has been planned for Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 1212 Kelly St NW New Philadelphia OH 44663 beginning with visitation at 2 pm and memorial at 3 pm. All invited. A Celebration of Life will be planned in the Spring at the Home of Peggy and Steve Snyder, hosted by Peggy and Sister Martha Casterline to follow with a trip to their childhood home in Port Washington to spread John’s ashes along the creek he once so freely ran.
If you would like to watch the memorial service for John and cannot attend, just click the ling below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81428264505?pwd=WlBDTmEyK0pNcTVuY1RSb2JqcVRsUT09
Meeting ID: 814 2826 4505
Passcode: John3:16
Addy Funeral Home
406 West State Street
Newcomerstown, OH 43832
740-498-8111
www.addyfuneralhome.com
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John Michael Putnam please visit our Sympathy Store.