Matthew Charles Pulis

Funeral Mass for Matthew Charles Pulis, 31, of Bemidji, formerly of Mt. Iron will be held 10 AM Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia with Fr. John O’Donnell and Fr. Bill Skarich Concelebrating. Visitation will be one hour prior to Mass at the church. Burial will be in the Chisholm City Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert. Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers. Matthew Charles Pulis died in the early morning hours of Saturday, October 20, 2012 in Bemidji, MN. Matthew was born on March 21, 1981, the fourth of five children, to Terry and Betty (Smith) Pulis in Virginia, MN. He grew up in Mt. Iron and attended Marquette Catholic School and the Virginia High School, graduating in 1999. Following high school, he briefly attended Mesabi Range Community College; however, he was mainly a self-taught man. Matt was hired at the Virginia McDonald’s in August of 1997, eventually transferring to the Bemidji West McDonald’s in February 2010, where worked in maintenance until the time of his death. Matt had no need for a prestigious job. He worked to support his passion for writing. Matt was also active in high school drama, as well as, the Virginia and Bemidji community theaters. To quote Matt’s friends, “Matt Pulis was an incredibly creative individual. He built his own artistic world and few were privileged to catch a glimpse at that genius that was contained therein. He molded his world based on the inspirations he took from everyday life and was able to turn them into written art.” Matt had a “brilliant mind”. He was “humble, gentle, innocent and someone who cared deeply about others”. He was “a unique and harmless individual, who did not have an enemy in this world.” The world has lost a talented playwright, novelist, movie and music critic, as well as, a political analyst, who had the ‘average American’s’ insight, that is so lacking in those analysts who have ‘made it’. As of now, no one truly knows or understands who and what we have all lost. Again quoting friends, “To say ‘I miss you’ isn’t enough. I (we) hope to see you again someday, Matt Pulis.” Survivors include: His parents: Terry and Betty Pulis of Mt. Iron; four siblings: Michelle (Daryn) Luukkonen of Britt; SFC Dan (Tempy) Pulis of Oak Grove, KY; Steph (Tim) Kniefel of Bemidji; and Emilie (Cassie Peterson) Pulis of Virginia. Seven nieces and nephews: Samantha & Tim Pulis; Chloe, Halie, Madeline, Jack & Max Kniefel; his grandmother Mary Ann Pulis of Ely; and Matt’s best friend Josh Zollar of Joliet, IL. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as, friends to numerous to mention. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, George Pulis and his maternal grandparents, George and Hortense Smith.