Beaverton Historical Society
Gladwin County Obituary/Death Notice
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Alex Puhar
Alex Mitchell Puhar, 60, beloved father, friend and companion laid down his carpentry tools and was called up for higher service Friday, Aug. 25, 2006. He was born on Oct. 9, 1945 in Detroit, the son of Mitchell and Florence (Adams) Puhar.
As a young teen, Al learned the art of fine finish carpentry from his grandfather, Gordon Willford. In 1964, Al graduated from Gladwin High School and went to work in Flint, where he was employed at General Motors for five years.
During his time of employment with GM, Al married Sharon Stephens. Together they raised four children. Al and Sharon moved their family back to Gladwin in 1970, where he worked for a while on different areas of the building trades, including furnace installation, plumbing, sheet metal, auto body repair, construction, cabinet maker and contracting. Al was instrumental in the success of the family farm. Later, the couple purchased a restaurant in Meredith. They named it Shar-Al’s (for Sharon and Alex). Shar-Al’s was a community pillar in the small town of Meredith for over 30 years and continues still today to be an icon in the town. Within that time, Al and Sharon also owned and operated the Meredith Drive Inn Theater for five years. For the past 20 years, Al was employed at Cedar Farms Ranch in Gladwin.
Al also fine-tuned his woodworking skills in the form of decorative decoy carving. He gained much notoriety in many competitions and eventually became Michigan’s Chapter of Ducks Unlimited carver of the year in 1992. He competed and won at the national level and world shows. Al was an avid outdoorsman whose favorite pastimes included fishing, upland bird/hare, waterfowl and most of all finding great success in the harvesting of white tail bucks.
He leaves to cherish his memory, his mother, Florence Adams of Gladwin; a son, Michael (Barbara) Puhar of Grand Rapids; three daughters, Stacey Neil and friend Chet Kellar of Houghton Lake, Jackie (Walt) Walden of Phoenix, Arizona, Tracey Morris and John Morris of Prescott; son-in-law, close friend, and thought of as a son, Patrick Neil; special companion, Cynthia Hamilton and her son Ryan; special friends Lou Dallas, John Leekley and Jim Bindschatel; eight grandchildren, Seth and Cassidy Puhar, Jessica (Neil) Vass, Amber and Ashley Neil, Amanda and Walter Walden, and Colette Morris; two greatgrandchildren, Sierra and Kasey Vass; a brother, Gordon (Brenda) Yoesting of Gladwin; and a sister, Margaret (Tom) Lennon of Midland. He was preceded in death by his father, Mitchell; wife, Sharon; and stepfather, William Adams.
Al was a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, loyal friend and teacher. Al touched the hearts of all who knew him.
Al/Dad, you will be deeply missed by your family and friends from this day forward. Funeral services were held at Hall Funeral Home on Aug. 29, 2006.
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| Personal Information
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Death Date
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Burial/Final Location
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Service
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08/25/2006
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Unknown Cemetery, Gladwin, MI
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unk
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| Publication Information
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Pub. Date
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Publication
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Pub. Page
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08/30/2006
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Gladwin County Record, Gladwin, MI
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P:A2 C:?
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| Transcription Information
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Date
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Transcribed by
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Source Media
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September 2009
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Bob Frei
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Microfilm
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