Peter W. Putzier, 75

Peter W. Putzier died on Nov. 13, 2016, from complications of dementia. 

He is survived by his brother, Matthias Putzier and wife Mary Ann, of BIuffton, South Carolina; wife, Sharilee Payne; children, Peter and Christine; and grandchildren, Shae, Nina, Peter and Joseph.

Peter was born to Dorothy (Cremer) and Frederick Putzier in 1941 in Red Wing, Minnesota. He grew up in Ellsworth, Wisconsin, attended grade school there and graduated from St. Thomas Academy in Minneapolis. He attended a Jesuit seminary and the University of Wisconsin.

Pete met his first wife, Elsa, at U of W and they were married in 1964. Peter earned a master’s degree in Latin to complement his Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

After leaving the University of Wisconsin, the young family moved to Austria where Pete attended the University in Vienna, Austria, studying German. He then taught in Switzerland at the Institut Le Rosey, a prestigious international boarding in Gstaad. Switzerland always remained a kind of second home to Pete.

In 1968 the young family moved to Kalispell. Pete taught English at Flathead High School and taught part time at the Flathead Valley Community College where he was a brave and early advocate for the unionization of teachers.

In 1970 Pete got his real estate license. In 1976 he and his wife Elsa opened Teakettle Realty in Columbia Falls. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce in Columbia Falls, and chairman of the Board of Realtors. He supported the Columbia Falls School System and its sports programs. For several years he was an EMT volunteer for the Columbia Falls Volunteer Ambulance Association

Religious faith and family were the lodestones in Pete’s life. He was deeply committed to his family and to the education of his children. He spent hours tutoring, encouraging and supporting his kids during all phases of their schooling. He was always intellectually curious, carried with him a lighthearted mischievousness, and never stopped striving for a deeper connection with God.

Pete loved all water sports, including swimming, canoeing and especially sailing in his J-24, the “Saki,” and later sailing his trimaran, “Tri-phoon.” We remember him smiling while sailing on Flathead Lake, wearing his Green Bay Packers hat, equally happy in a broad reach or waiting for the next “puff.” He loved to ski and the family chose to build a little cabin at the base of what was then called the Big Mountain Ski Resort.

Travel with his family was another love of his. Pete always had a special place in his heart for Greece and Italy, the countries of many of the philosophers he knew so well from his studies.

In 1997 he married Sharilee Payne and started a second journey in his life. They spent time together golfing, riding motorcycles, or going on sailing cruises. Pete was close to Sharilee’s children, Jami, Jarame and Suzanna. They were a genuine second family to him. It was also during this time that Pete developed a special bond with his poodles, O’Reilly, Steele, Lexi and Sail, all of whom would bring him great joy and comfort.

Please join us in celebration of Peter’s life, sharing stories and special moments that will put a smile on our faces and joy in our hearts for knowing this very special man. A rosary will be said at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18, at St. Richard’s Catholic Church in Columbia Falls, with services at 2 p.m. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery.