Charlie Puegh

Charlie Puegh liked to keep his life simple, with his family at the center and his fishing and golfing just a little off to the side. In fact, he was the happiest when he could combine his two loves, spending a day with his family just golfing and fishing together.

In 1949, the country was recovering from the effects of World War II. Harry S. Truman was elected our nation's 33rd President, and George Orwell had just published his well-known novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four." It was into this time of new hope that Roy Pugh and his wife, Lester (Blanton), welcomed the birth of their son, Charlie Edward Puegh, on May 9, 1949. The youngest of four children, Charlie joined his two sisters and brother in their modest home in Arkansas. When he was three, the family moved north to Michigan, and made their home on the south side of Holland. Here, Charlie's father supported the family working construction, while his mother was employed at Sligh Furniture for many years.

Charlie received his education in the Holland Public Schools, and played football and baseball at Holland High. Charlie left high school before graduating to enlist in the Marine Corp. However, he later went back and earned his diploma in 1987, in an Alternative Education Program in Holland. Like many other young men of the time, Charlie honorably served in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War, though luckily, he never went to Vietnam. Upon his discharge in 1970, Charlie returned home to his wife, Alysoun York, who he married before entering the military, and their son, Ken, who was born in 1967. He soon found work at Slickcraft, a boat factory in Holland, and was employed here for about ten years. Charlie then took a job at Donnelly Corporation as a Production Supervisor for several years, before going to work in the lab, where he tested chemicals and parts for the automotive industry.

In 1979, Charlie's marriage to Alysoun ended in divorce. But Charlie was not destined to be alone and he found love again with Jean Knoll, a good friend and co-worker he often socialized with from Slickcraft. Charlie and Jean were married on May 2, 1981, and settled into married life together in a house they bought at 14831 Tyler in West Olive. Jean brought more than just her love into Charlie's life. She had four children of her own, and she and Charlie did a wonderful job of making their two separate families into one happy group. As a family, they enjoyed bowling together, and since the house was heated with wood, the kids remember cutting logs out back with Charlie. As a father, Charlie was always there for his kids, helping and supporting them in any way he could. Later on, when they were grown, he loved to have family get togethers at their camper in Ludington or at one of the kids' houses. And he was certainly in his glory when surrounded by the love and smiles of his grandchildren; they were the apples of his eye.

Aside from his family, Charlie was quiet passionate about golf and was a player too. His children say he was "the best golfer, and nothing less than the Best in Town!" He played most often at the West Ottawa Golf Course and Crestview Golf Club in Borculo, where he holds a course record. Charlie loved golf so much that his family often joked with Jean that if she wanted to marry Charlie, it would have to be on the golf course. Well, it wasn't exactly on the course, but they did get married in the clubhouse at Crestview. Now outside of golf, Charlie also loved fishing anywhere the fish were biting. To keep up with his two favorite "hobbies", Charlie had the "best golf cart, best golf clubs and the best boat," which gave him the edge to do his best. Beyond these distinctions, however, Charlie was also a man of great faith and a longtime member of the Lighthouse Christian Ministries of Grand Haven.

For many years, Charlie lived with diabetes and had undergone heart surgery. Lately, though his health and body weakened and tired and he passed away. He will be forever remembered as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather, to the family he loved dearly.

Charlie Edward Puegh, age 57, of Grand Haven, MI, died on Wednesday, April 25, 2007, at Spectrum Butterworth Campus in Grand Rapids. He was preceded death by his brother, Bobby Pugh, and his sister, Ovedell Lawson. His family includes his wife of 26 years, Jean Puegh, of Grand Haven, MI; his son, Ken Puegh of Holland, MI, as well as Vicki and Mike Bradford of Holland, MI, Valorie Oonk of Holland, MI, Fred Johnson of West Olive, MI, Rich and Suzanne Martin of Holland, MI; 11 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren; sister, Sarah and Danny Warhurst of AR; mother-in-law, Wilma Knoll of Zeeland, MI; in-laws: Joyce VandenBosch of Holland, MI, Phila Essenburg of Zeeland, MI, Beth and David Day of Holland, MI, Gretchen Potts of Holland, MI; and several nephews, nieces and cousins.

Services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 30, at Lighthouse Christian Ministries of Grand Haven, 13858 Lincoln Avenue, 49417. Burial will be in North Holland Cemetery in Holland. Public visitation will be from 6-9 on Sunday, April 29, at the Northwood Chapel, Dykstra Life Story Funeral Home, 295 Douglas Avenue, Holland, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to the local Diabetes Association. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory of Charlie or sign his online guest book.