Obituary of Jon L. Puz

Jon LeRoy Puz Sr. (63) resident of St. Maries, ID died January 1, 2012 at his home following a 2 year courageous battle with cancer. He was born May 24, 1948 to Ivan and Bessie (Stanley) Puz at Olympia, WA. He grew up at Riddle, OR and graduated form Riddle High School with the class of 1966. He attended Umpquah Comm. College at Roseburg, OR where he played baseball. He then worked for Continental Can Mfg. at Olympia, WA. He married Diantha Obyrne in 1968 and they were divorced in 1973. He worked as a millwright at Roseburg Forest Products . He married Joen Pepperling in the mid-1970's. Jon worked for several major wood product manufacturing lumber mills in his career. He worked in Production Improvement as a maintenance manager. His various employers included Plum Creek in Arkansas and Montana, MARCO in Louisiana and back with Roseburg Forest Products before taking a position with Potlatch Corp. in May of 2009 when he moved to St. Maries. Jon fought the "good fight" with pancreatic cancer for two years. As we all know and remember, Jon was a tough guy. He pushed to get out of the hospital after two major surgeries so he could get back to work and capital projects. Multiple chemotherapy and radiation were treated like a bump in the road while he stayed focused on his crew and the ongoing work in two wood products manufacturing facilities. He fought his battle with cancer with persistence, obsession, and continually driving to learn more; the same way he worked on capital projects and equipment problems throughout his 40 year career in the wood products business. Just like his work, he never gave up. Many of us who worked with Jon in his early career remember him as the master in a world of very skilled craftsmen. If he didn't already know how to do it he wanted to learn and he was a lightening quick study. He was naturally gifted at the work. Jon understood complex mechanical and hydraulic systems and problems while the rest of us stumbled. As Jon progressed in his career he had to give up the tools and train others to do the work. In this effort there simply wasn't anyone better. He didn't always make it fun and any lack of motivation on our part resulted in a semi volcanic explosion. The important thing is we all learned and learned well. John trained the finest craftsmen in the industry and given our stubborn ways, this was no small feat. Jon's passing is a real loss to our industry and those who worked with him. Jon always looked forward all year to hunting trips with his father; now they'll have more time together. Jon enjoyed hunting, fishing, back packing, hiking and four-wheeling. He is survived by Joen Puz at the family home. Son's and daughter's-in-law Jon and Michelle Puz Jr. of Green, OR and Kevin and Barbara McClure of Athol, ID Also surviving are his daughter and son-in-law Beverly and Craig Trankle of Kalispell, MT. Jon is also survived by his father Ivan Puz in Coos Bay, OR, brother Jack Puz of Riddle, OR and sister Joyce Wilkins of Terrebonne, OR as well as 8 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren as well as niece Kerie. He was preceded in death by his mother and daughter Evelyn Reeves. A celebration of his life will be held later this Summer at a date and time to be announced. Visit his online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.hodgefuneralhome.com Read Jon Puz's Obituary and Guestbook on www.hodgefuneralhome.com.