Marcella Ardelle Doxtator Elmergreen Putnam, age 85 of Bowler passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 27, 2008 surrounded by her family and friends. Born on June 4, 1923 in Stockbridge, WI, she was the daughter of the late William and Ethel (Welch) Doxtator. Marcella graduated from Fond du Lac High School and then graduated from St. Paul Bible Institute on June 19, 1945. In 1946 she married Eugene Victor Elmergreen and they had six sons: Michael, Richard, James, Donald, Edward and Dennis. In 1967 the family moved from Stockbridge to the Stockbridge Munsee Indian Reservation, Bowler where Marcella enjoyed her new home and community. She worked for the Bowler Schools for ten years and played piano and taught Sunday School for 40 years. Marcella was a member of the Stockbridge Bible Church on the Stockbridge Reservation. Eugene died on August 3, 1991 and Marcella had several years of being alone until she met and married Willard Putnam on November 2, 1996. In 2003 Marcella and Willard moved to the Ella Besaw Center and after Willard passed away January 11, 2006, Marcella continued to live at the Besaw Center. Marcella loved her Ella Besaw family and continued to enjoy music, painting, beading, gardening and sewing.

Marcella is survived by: her sons; Richard (Connie) of Seymour, James (Susan) of Shawano, Donald of Keshena, Edward (Patsy) of Bowler and Dennis (Candace) of Wausau, a daughter-in-law, Valarie of Michigan, 15 grandchildren; Tyler, Tiffany, Adam, Christine, Shannon, Tanya, Tammy, Rachael, Edward Jr., Jeremiah, Justin, Timothy, Jonathan, Courtney, Dennis Jr. and Natasha, Step grandchildren; Carrie, Sarah, Adam, Joan and 21 great grandchildren. She is further survived by her sister, Ann and brothers; Marvin, William Jr. and Daniel, and many nieces and nephews and a step daughter, Rosalie Parsons.

Marcella is preceded in death by her son, Michael, her first husband, Eugene Elmergreen and second husband, Willard Putnam and a stepson, David.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 am on Monday, December 1, 2008 at the Stockbridge Bible Church, Bowler with Rev. W. Ed Zook officiating. Burial will be in the Stockbridge Indian Burial Grounds. Family and friends may call at the Swedberg Funeral Home, Gresham on Sunday from 4 to 8 pm and on Monday at the church from 10:30 am until the time of the service.

November 28th, 2008
Swedberg