Kenneth George Putzi, 83, of Sheridan, passed peacefully on Friday, July 21, 2017, at the Amie Holt Care Center in Buffalo. Ken was born on January 30, 1934 in Warren, Alberta, Canada, to John H. and Sophie (Schmid) Putzi, immigrants of Switzerland and Germany, respectively. German was his first language. Ken and his four siblings were raised on the family farm. In the mid 1950s, Ken moved to the Sheridan area where he worked on ranches and trained horses. It was there that he met and married Beverly (Betka). They had three daughters and were married eighteen years. Throughout his life, Ken worked on many different ranches in Colorado and Wyoming. He also trained horses, was a carpenter, and a cattle buyer. He could fix just about anything with baling twine, enhanced by his colorful vocabulary. Ken loved Quarter horses and Hereford cattle, nature, and his stock dogs. In his later years, he delighted in watching his four grandchildren pursue their school, music, sports, 4H, and rodeo activities. Ken was a member of Holy Name Catholic Church. He was a fan of horse racing, rodeo, the Denver Broncos and the Wyoming Cowboys. Ken was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Ralph, sister, Mary, brother-in-law, Vic, four nephews, and a niece. He is survived by his daughters, Deborah (Don) Gardner of Corvallis, MT, Karen (John) Ross, of Morristown, AZ and Jennifer (Josh) Johnson of Buffalo, WY, siblings Jean Pittman of Warner, Alberta, and Rick (Rod) Putzi of Milk River, Alberta, sister in law Erin Putzi of Lethbridge, Alberta, his grandchildren, Amelia Gardner, Nathan Gardner, Coy Johnson, and Cam Johnson, along with numerous nieces and nephews. He maintained a life-long friendship with the Betka family.
Memorials to honor Ken may be made to the Wyoming State 4-H Office, 1000 E. University Ave. Dept. 3354, Laramie, WY 82071 or to the Montana 4-H Foundation, 111 Taylor Hall, P.O. Box 173580, Bozeman, MT 59717.
A Rosary will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2017, at Kane Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 28, 2017, at Holy Name Church with Father Robert Rodgers officiating. A reception will follow in the parish hall.
Online condolences may be written at www.kanefuneral.com.
Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
