SHARPSVILLE, Pennsylvania (MyValleyTributes) – William J. Puhak, 67 of Sharpsville, formerly of Masury, passed away peacefully after a brief illness at 10:05 p.m. Sunday, November 5, 2023, at UPMC Presbyterian, Pittsburgh. He was surrounded by his loving family in his final moments.

Bill was born June 22, 1956, in Warren, Ohio, to John and Mary (Kraynak) Puhak.

He was a 1974 graduate of Brookfield High School and grew up in Masury, one of six children. Bill earned an electrical engineering degree from Youngstown State University.

He worked at Sharon Regional Medical Center for 31 years, first in housekeeping and then as a pharmacy technician. He also worked for the Greenville Post Office for four years as a custodial maintenance employee. He was an auxiliary member of the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association and a member of the safety committee for the Greenville Post Office. He was always quick with a joke at work – his way of trying to make his co-workers’ day a little less stressful.

Bill married the former Janet Piciacchio on June 5, 1976. They met on a blind date and shared 47 years of marriage, raising their four children in Sharon and later Hermitage.

The six of them shared many road trips, adventures and memories. When traveling, he always took different routes to their destination and back, stopping along the way for picnics and quirky attractions.

Bill set a good example of what it means to be a loving husband and father. We miss you so much, Daddio.

He was very involved in his children’s lives throughout the years, volunteering with sports, school activities and scouts. He and Jan helped each of their children and their families in too many ways to count.

Bill was like a father to his sister-in-law, Celeste Piciacchio, who joined their home in 2009. He went above and beyond to help take care of her, also serving as a founding member of Aiding with Aging, a support group for families who take care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

He was “Papa” to six grandchildren, who love him dearly. On one of his last good days, he FaceTimed each grandchild to say hello and ask for some of their Halloween candy.

He never did get to see his beloved Cleveland Indians and Browns take home a championship but he was a diehard, lifelong fan through thick and thin. He also followed the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was proud to have shaken the hand of the late Franco Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bill knew how to fix almost anything and was always ready to lend a helping hand. He was the life of the party and never met a stranger. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, the beach, traveling, country music, home projects and tinkering in his workshop, and he never met a piece of chocolate he didn’t like.

He is survived by his wife, Jan, at home; his four children and their spouses, Monica and Stephen Pryts of Sharpsville, Jessica and Brady Boca of Cranberry Township, Lisa and Spenser Dippold of Erie and Joshua and Kaitlyn Puhak of Mount Lebanon; six grandchildren, Gavin Pryts, Leo and Mia Boca and Cohen, Sutton and Sloane Puhak; his siblings, Patrick Puhak of Akron, Donna Kushner of Paris, Ohio, Mary Ann Green and her husband, Ivan, of Masury and Ken Puhak and his wife, Cece, of Brookfield; two sisters-in-law, Celeste of Farrell and Debbie Puhak of Overland Park, Kansas; brother-in-law, Alan Piciacchio of Wappingers Falls, New York; brother-in-law, Louis Piciacchio and his wife, Sharon, of Wexford and many extended family members and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Mark Puhak and his much-loved dog, Jojo.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s memory to Whole Life Services, Inc., 1565 E. State Street, Hermitage, PA 16148.

Visitation will be held 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Thursday, November 9 in John Flynn Funeral Home & Crematory Inc., 2630 E. State Street, Hermitage, where a funeral service will follow at 3:30 p.m.

Messages of sympathy, stories and photos can be shared on Bill’s memorial page at flynnfuneralhome.com.

A television tribute will air Tuesday, October 7 at the following approximate times: 7:10 a.m. on FOX, 12:22 p.m. on WKBN, 5:08 p.m. on MyYTV and 7:27 p.m. on WYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.