Clarence J. Puska, Jr.

Clarence John Puska, Jr., a resident of Kincheloe, Michigan, passed away on March 14, 2014, at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from leukemia linked to Agent Orange exposure during his Vietnam War service. He was born in the War Memorial Hospital, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on May 1, 1948. He attended Garfield Elementary School and Sault High School, which he graduated from in 1966. Clarence served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969. He retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 1989 at the rank of MKCS (E-8). His military awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, three Army Commendation Medals, Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal, Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon, Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon, Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon, Fifth Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal, Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Second Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, Permament Cutterman's Insignia, Coast Guard Restricted Duty Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal. After he retired from the Coast Guard, Clarence studied forestry at Michigan Technological University and photography at Lansing Community College. An avid nature lover, Clarence hiked solo across the Porcupine Mountains and Isle Royale, and enjoyed long distance snowmobiling and four wheeling, but he especially loved winter camping - the colder, the better. He was also an animal lover with a special soft spot for his cats - Kitty, Pete, and Repete. Clarence was a devoted member of the Fundamental Baptist Church, Kincheloe, Michigan, where his deep faith in Jesus brought him great strength and joy. In service to the church he almost single handedly cut the cords of wood needed to heat the church for many winters. He had been an Associate at Walmart since 1996. He is survived by his mother, Ruth Marie Puska (nee Rasmussen), Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and his sister, Susan Marie Puska, Arlington, Virginia. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, March 28, 2014 at C.S. Mulder Funeral Home. Friends may call at the funeral home from 1:00 PM until the time of the service. Burial will be later this spring at North Rudyard Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in his name to Best of Friends Humane Society, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Tributes

Clarence J. Puska, Jr.

May 1, 1948 - March 14, 2014