BERNE — Devoted family man and founder of Revere Construction, of Berne, Visvaldis Puzulis died on Thursday, Oct 3, 2019. He was 82.

Puzulis was born in Latvia, then a republic of the Soviet Union, in 1937. He arrived in the United States soon after, where his adopted parents took up cattle farming. As a child, he enjoyed fishing and helping out around the farm. 

When he was old enough, he enlisted in the United States infantry as a paratrooper and was stationed in Germany. It was there that he met his future wife, Eleonore (née Mertz), who worked at a local store.

Their son, Michael Puzulis, was born in Germany. When Michael turned 6, the family moved back to the U.S. and married in 1959. They lived in an apartment on Allen Street, in Albany, before settling in Berne. 

“Life wasn’t luxurious,” said Mr. Puzulis. “But he always made sure we were cared for.”

Visvaldis Puzulis oversaw the construction of several houses in the area as head of Revere Construction.

In addition to construction, Visvaldis Puzulis worked as a car carrier for Subaru until his retirement. “He was number one,” said his son. “The most senior.”

Mr. Puzulis was known to be social and enjoyed car-racing. He owned stock cars, which he drove himself.

“He had a beautiful motorhome and a gorgeous fishing boat on Lake Ontario, where he would fish and entertain his friends and family,” his son wrote in a tribute.

As a father, Visualdis Puzulis could be strict, but he taught his son his construction skills and the value of a dollar.

“He made sure I knew that, if you wanted something, you had to work for it,” said Mr. Puzulis.

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Visvaldis Puzulis is survived by his wife, Eleonore Puzulis; his son, Michael Pazulis and his daughter-in-law, Svetlana Puzulis, as well as his grandchildren, Valentina and Michelle Puzulis. 

A celebration of life will be held at Maple on the Lake Restaurant at 141 Warners Lake Road in East Berne, on Sunday, Nov. 3,  from 2 until 5 p.m.

— Noah Zweifel