Cleo Pulis, 81

Cleo John Pulis, 81, passed away on Friday, May 23, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, surrounded by family and friends after a long battle with hereditary heart disease.

Cleo lived an extraordinary life. He was born August 20, 1932, in White Butte, S.D. He rode a horse to a one room school house, and graduated from Lemmon High School in 1949. Cleo was a self-taught man; he studied a variety of subjects throughout his life including tax law, construction management, holistic health alternatives and much more.

In 1951, Cleo moved to Alaska with his brother, Clifford. Their parents, John and Ellen, joined them on the adventure traveling up the Alcan (Alaskan/Canadian) Highway. Upon arrival in Fairbanks, Cleo and his dad talked their way into a job on a construction crew, assuring the boss that they had extensive construction knowledge, when in reality their experience consisted of mending fences and barns on the farm.

In 1952, Cleo met his wife, Shirley, in Anchorage and they enjoyed 59 adventure filled years. Together, they built a successful construction business, Pulis Builders, Inc,. and raised their daughter, Lisa. While building projects in rural Alaska, Cleo became a master of job site logistics, figuring out creative ways to get materials and manpower to remote locations. He also became a private pilot, and visited construction projects first in his SuperCub, and later in his Cessna 206.

Cleo and Shirley had many adventures during their marriage, including spending time on their boat, the Jonita, where they fell in love with Seldovia, Alaska. In 1986 they purchased a cabin on the Seldovia Slough where they spent many summers fishing, clam digging and enjoying the beauty of Alaska. Cleo even caught a 52 pound king salmon right in front of the house.

Cleo was the type of man that everyone admired—kind, caring, smart and humble. He had many friends he enjoyed spending time with whether it was golfing at Hayden Lake Country Club, fishing in Alaska, or hunting in Idaho or South Dakota every fall. Cleo’s life was full of joy, friendship and love. He will be missed by many.

Cleo was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ellen Pulis; and brother, Clifford Pulis. He is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Shirley; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa Pulis Sauder and Steve Sauder; and grandchildren: Tucker, Dalton and Madison.

A memorial service will be held 2 p.m., Friday, May 30, at Yates Funeral Home, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene. Donations in Cleo's honor may be made to Hospice of North Idaho. Please visit Cleo's memorial, and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com