Puetz, Gerald “Gerry” Eugene
January 6, 1941 – May 1, 2024
It is with great sadness that the family of Gerald Eugene Puetz announces his passing on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at Humboldt District Hospital surrounded by his loving wife and children.
Gerry was born on January 6, 1941 in Humboldt, SK. He grew up on the family farm near Marysburg, and took his schooling at Blume School for Grades 1 - 8. Gerry then attended St. Henry school in Marysburg until the end of Grade 9. After helping with harvest and then breaking his leg, he decided not to return for Grade 10. He worked on the farm with his dad until 1960 when he attended the School of Agriculture at U of S in Saskatoon. Gerry was always interested in mechanical work such as welding, overhauling, and repairing motors and machinery and making things out of iron. Gerry became a talented welder and worked at Doepker Industries in the winters of 1963/64, working the night shift earning just a dollar an hour.
In 1962, he met the love of his life Connie Sarauer and they were married on July 6, 1964 in Annaheim. Together they built their family home and farm near Marysburg and were blessed with six children. Due to a fire at Doepker Industries the following winter, Gerry couldn’t return to welding so he purchased a 1949 semi-trailer unit and custom hauled for farmers. He hauled to various locations throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Montana.
Gerry thoroughly enjoyed sports, especially curling, baseball and his grandsons’ hockey and watching the Humboldt Broncos. He was always involved with community affairs such as Knights of Columbus, Parish Council, Curling Club, School Board, the Sask Wheat Pool Committee, and the Lake Lenore Cooperative Seed Cleaning Plant.
Gerry was an industrious man who would create and build something if it didn’t exist or wasn’t to his liking. As a result of breaking many poor-quality tow ropes he decided to make a better product himself. He taught himself how to make these and became well known for his custom-built tow ropes. Gerry’s tow ropes became popular locally and could be found in many vehicles throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta.
After Gerry retired from farming, he and Connie remained living on the farm until 2020 when they moved into a condo in Humboldt. Gerry enjoyed his coffee row routine and visiting with his many friends and family. He always made a point of being involved with his grandchildren and staying up to date with all of their activities. He also tried to stay current with technology using his phone and Facebook to keep tabs on his family. Gerry enjoyed travelling, both near and far, by vehicle, boat, airplane or more recently his scooter. Gerry’s last outing was taking his two youngest grandchildren to Dairy Queen for ice cream, which was his signature grandpa move.
Gerald is lovingly remembered and will be sadly missed by his wife of 60 years, CONNIE and their six children, 14 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren:
Debbie Kunz of Sherwood Park and children Brandon Kunz (Kay) of Whitecourt and Tyler Kunz (Chelsea) of Edmonton;
Donna (Kevin) Kohle and children Paige Kohle (Joe) and Levi Kohle all of Calgary;
Lory (Darren) Haeusler of Humboldt and children Jesse (Chloe) Haeusler and their son Grady of Kelowna and Taylor Haeusler (Keenan) of Trail;
Lynnell (Tim) Crone of Sherwood Park and children Haley (Garret) Bury of Sylvan Lake, Danielle Crone (Brett) of Edmonton and Barbara Crone of Calgary.
Michael Puetz (Crystal) of Lake Lenore and children Brandon Shaw (Hannah) and their daughters Skyler, Nova and Aurora of Lake Lenore, † Britney Shaw and Ashley Shaw (Shelton) and son Xzavier of Saskatoon.
Marlene (Ryan) Whitehead and children Luke and Hunter of West Kelowna;
His siblings: Sheila Faul of Grande Prairie, Murray (Bev) Puetz of Humboldt, Bob (Debbie) Puetz of Calgary, Linda (Dwight) Johnson of Armstrong, and numerous nieces and nephews; half-sisters: Beatrice Parker and Bernadine Drought; and brother-in-law Jack Pasmeny;
In-laws Betty (Len) Storoschuk of Edmonton, Elaine (Gordon) Young of Osoyoos, Leander (Mary) Sarauer of Humboldt, Pat Kunz of Annaheim, Shirl (Les) Kunz of St. Brieux, Allen (Lorelie) Sarauer of Christopher Lake, and Duane (Allison) Sarauer of Annaheim; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gerald was predeceased by his parents Isidor and Agnes Puetz, in-laws Arthur and Margeret Sarauer, granddaughter Britney Shaw, sister Annette Puetz, brother-in-law Glen Kunz and nephews Bradley Faul and Matthew Puetz; his half-siblings: Elmer and Isador Jr, Delaphine (Alex) Wesling, Marie (Phillip) Muench, Mildred (Tom) Cameron, George Parker, Bernice Pasmeny, Irene (Gwilym) Evans, and Darlene (Steve) Defresne. A Funeral Mass for Gerald was held on Monday, May 6, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. from St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, Humboldt, celebrated by Fr. Lawrence DeMong OSB. Interment will take place at Marysburg Assumption at a later date. Memorial donations in Gerald’s memory may be directed to St. Mary’s Villa Foundation.
This notice placed courtesy of
Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home & Crematorium
Phone: 682-1622