Joseph Conrad Putzbach's Obituary
Joseph Conrad Putzbach, 82, of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2026.
He was born on January 1, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, to the late Joseph Conrad Huck and Vivian Mildred Stoddard (who later remarried to Anthony Putzbach). Joseph proudly served in the United States Air Force from March 25, 1962, to August 16, 1966, receiving an honorable discharge. During his service, he was stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippines and served as an aircraft mechanic, where he honorably assisted in vital helicopter medevac missions to transport patients out of Vietnam.
Raised in Illinois, Joseph later moved to Cape Coral, Florida, before relocating to Lake Ozark, Missouri, fulfilling a lifelong dream of living on a lake surrounded by beautiful views and stunning sunsets. After fifteen wonderful years there, he ultimately returned to Fort Myers to be close to his family and make his final home.
A man of deep Christian faith, Joseph found true joy in his family and in the simple and meaningful moments of life. In his spare time, he loved fishing and boating, frequently seeking the peace and natural beauty of the water. He was also well-known for his fondness for donuts—a small, sweet indulgence that never failed to bring a smile to his face and happiness to his day.
Joseph’s legacy of love lives on through his family. He will be deeply missed by his beloved wife of 35 years, Katherine “Kathy” (Ziegler) Putzbach. He is survived by his loving daughter, Toni "Renae" Dvoroznak (daughter of Mary Susan) and her husband, Brian, of Fort Myers; his cherished granddaughters, Erin, and Kaley and her spouse; and his treasured great-granddaughter, Sofia. He also leaves behind his devoted siblings, Joann (John), Conrad Joseph (Liz), and Cathy (Nick), along with a large, loving extended family including his dear brothers- and sisters-in-law, and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews who held a special place in his heart.
In addition to his parents, Joseph was preceded in death by his two brothers, Anthony "Tony" Putzbach and Ronald "Ron" Putzbach.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a date yet to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Joseph’s memory to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation by visiting https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by visiting https://www.stjude.org.
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