Submitted by: Dan Rich
July 5, 1913 - Nov. 26, 2007
South Bend Tribune 11/27/2007
GRANGER - Grace Louise Putz, 94,
known to friends as "Lou," passed away at 4:25 a.m.
Monday, Nov. 26, in her Granger residence. She was born July 5,
1913, in Benedict, Nebraska, to Rev. Charles R. and Ava Loretta
Blessing Lowe. The Lowes also lived in Dakota City,
Auburn, Hebron and Beatrice, Nebraska. In the summer of '36, Lou
and her parents moved to Monroe, WI, where she was society editor
for the Monroe Evening Times for four years. For a short time she
lived in Chicago before coming to South Bend. For 15 years, she
was employed in the office service department of the Studebaker
Corporation. During World War II, Lou managed a small department,
enabling her to know most of the Studebaker corporate executives.
On March 12, 1942, Rev. Lowe performed the
marriage of his daughter, Louise, to Herbert E. Putz, formerly of
Baraboo, WI. "Herb" was at the time a division head at
Sears. Upon his retirement, for health reasons, the couple
decided to go into chinchilla animal husbandry and fur farming,
against the advice of family and friends. On a trip to the
original chinchilla farm, owner Reginald Chapman, who first
brought chinchillas to the United States, convinced Herb and Lou
to go forth with their dream venture. They purchased two pair and
ranched them at the Chapman Chinchilla Ranch in Inglewood, CA,
until the two pair increased to a goodly number. Then the furry
little animals were shipped to South Bend.
This took several years as "chins"
are not as prolific as their rodent cousins, the rabbit and
porcupine. The Putzes also raised champion Siberian Husky dogs
for 49 years, Lou doing the show circuits with both dogs and
chinchilla, receiving best in show awards with both. During their
59 years of marriage, Herb and Lou became involved with local
politics. Both were past presidents of the Clay Township
Republican Club. She was a Clay Precinct Chairman for many years.
She helped organize and was active in the St. Joseph Valley
Chinchilla Club. She was past president of Teen's Auxiliary for
underprivileged children. She sang for 20 years in the First
Presbyterian Church choir and also was a member of its original
bell choir. Traveling was what she enjoyed most, and at the age
of 87, she was free from the responsibility of caring for live
animals. She visited friends in North Carolina and Wisconsin
twice and Kansas City, Mo. At age 89, she went to see the Crystal
Cathedral in Garden City, CA, to hear Dr. Schuller and see the
cathedral's live production of "The Glory of Easter."
She also visited Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo. In celebration
of her 88th birthday, she rode an elephant at the circus museum
in Peru, IN, fulfilling a long-time desire. When asked why, her
reply, "You don't need to be crazy, but it helps." On
July 5, 2003, Lou celebrated her 90th birthday, with a large
party of friends, in the Friendship Hall at Christ the King
Lutheran Church, which she joined in June 2001. Surviving Lou are
a cousin, Genie Beaulieu of Kansas City, MO, a large
family of friends, and "word-of-mouth" adoptees: David Brown
of Granger, Dr. Judy Brown Richardson of LaPorte, Judy Patterson
of South Carolina, Ginny Jakoubek of Granger and Teresa Delusignan
of Granger.
Memorial services for Lou will be at 11 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 28, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North,
17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend. There will be no visitation.
Cremation will take place in the Welsheimer Crematory, South
Bend. Burial will be at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park at a
later date. Memorial contributions in Lou's name may be made to
the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court,
South Bend, IN 46637.