Obituary
Anton (Tony) Putra, age 89, of The Villages passed away peacefully with family at his side on Friday, April 10, 2020. He was born in Croatia on July 22, 1930 of Yugoslavian parents.
As a 19-year-old displaced person from World War II, Tony emigrated from Austria with his parents and siblings to Ohio. His wife Anna was able to join him the following year. They proudly earned their US citizenship and lived and raised their five children in the Akron, Ohio area until coming to The Villages in 1997.
They truly lived the immigrant’s American Dream and had celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary on December 24, 2019. They were inseparable and were holding hands when she passed away on December 27. Now he has fulfilled his final wish of joining her in Heaven.
He is survived by his brother Michael Putra in Ohio. He also leaves daughters Marie D’Emidio (Russ D’Emidio) and Betty Nye of The Villages FL, Linda Champion and Nancy Putra of Sun City, AZ and son Michael Putra of Huron, OH. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Tony, Andrea, Gretchen, Dan, Anton and two great-grandchildren: Abby and Cassie. One other grandchild Jeremy pre-deceased him. He is also pre-deceased by his wife Anna, and sisters Regina Blaz and Katherina Graham.
Tony was a self-made man and skilled tradesman. At the height of his career, he owned and operated the Putra Tile, Marble and Terrazzo company that built and renovated many shopping malls and hospitals in Ohio. Tony also had the unique talent and perseverance to fix anything that broke. He enjoyed golf and bowling and was a member of the German Club and Ohio Club. But most of all he loved his family. “Opa” enjoyed joking and would bring smiles to their faces and they to his. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church.
Finally, with Angels calling for him, he is at peace. Service will be private due to the pandemic.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations would be appreciated to the Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares FL 32778. Their kindness, care and compassion were very comforting.
Love, Linda