Kenneth M. Puleo

Kenneth M. Puleo, 79, of Brownstown, formerly of Sullivan, passed away at 11:53 p.m. Tuesday March 13, 2018 in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, O’Fallon, Illinois.

Celebration of Life services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday in the Brownstown First Baptist Church with Dr. Olen Evans officiating. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Monday at the Reed Funeral Home, Sullivan and also from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in the Liberty Cemetery, Brownstown. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association. Send online condolences to the family at reedfuneralhome.net.

Ken was born April 14, 1938 in Chicago, the son of Sam and Etta Castaldo Puleo. He married Wanda Bruce McDonald on December 8, 2001 and they have resided in Brownstown ever since. He was affiliated with the Sullivan First Christian Church before moving to Brownstown. He attended the Brownstown First Baptist Church. Ken retired from the R. R. Donnelly Company in Mattoon. Ken and Wanda enjoyed traveling to different states and had looked forward to returning to Chattanooga, TN. They also tried to return to Branson every year in December to celebrate their anniversary to see the Platters.

Surviving are his wife Wanda of Brownstown; sister Kathleen (Tom) Bunfill of Sullivan; stepsons Mike (Tammy) McDonald of Ramsey, Bill (Sandy) McDonald of Brownstown; stepdaughters Connie McDonald of Sandoval, Kathy (Matt) McConkey of Brownstown, Debbie McDonald of Brownstown, stepson Steve (Sue) Booker of Sullivan; nephew Kurtis (Megan) Bunfill of Sullivan; niece Kristi (Tim) Montgomery of Sullivan; several step grandchildren and great grandchildren; great nephews Jared Bunfill, Tyson Montgomery, Tucker Montgomery and a great niece Grace Bunfill.

He found pleasure in taking care of their four acres, mowing, having a garden, setting out trees and roses, having his Christmas tree on the corner lit up for the neighbors enjoyment as well as the Puleo family. He found he could love cats as well as dogs.

Ken had learned about bridge building when he was with the Army Engineers outfit, and decided to build a bridge acress the creek running through their property, which was used by cats and dogs alike.

Ken was a life long Chicago Cubs fan, and it must have been meant to be that they won the world series while he was still able to enjoy it.

Ken loved sports. He was a Golden Gloves boxer, played on softball, basketball and football teams while in Chicago and was still active in softball and bowling teams until middle age. He had been a referee for basketball and softball for the schools in the Sullivan area and also had a boxing club for several years. Even more that sports, he loved his family and enjoyed get togethers with them especially loved the precious grandchildren and their hugs and kisses.

He was preceded in death by his parents.