PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. - Bernard Francis "Bud" Paruleski, new resident of Port Washington and longtime resident of Green Bay, Wis., passed away peacefully Nov. 3, 2009, after a brief battle with cancer.

Bud was born to the late John and Leah (Zorzy) Paruleski in Kingsford, where he attended Kingsford High School. After graduation, Bud enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country during the Korean War, stationed in Southeast Asia.

After his service, he married Rita Lu Stolberg of Iron Mountain, on Aug. 18, 1956, his loving wife of more than 50 years. Bud attended Michigan State University where he earned a degree in city and urban planning, and subsequently he and Rita Lu moved to Green Bay where he took a position with the city. After a long, successful career, Bud retired as executive director of the Green Bay-Brown County Planning Commission in 1994.

A skilled artist from an early age, Bud enjoyed woodworking and stained glass crafting, fashioning many beautiful pieces for family and friends; most recently he took up building Lego sets with his grandchildren.

He will be forever remembered by his wife, Rita Lu; sister, Shirley (and John) Smith; brother, Lyle (and Peggy) Paruleski; daughters, Kim (Tony) Oxendine, Kerry Paruleski, and Kris McKinney; grandchildren, Katie and Alex Oxendine, and Baylor, Turner, and Emersen McKinney; sister-in-law, Marge Paruleski; brother-in-law, Don Sherman; and countless other family and friends whom were blessed to know him.

One of six children, Bud is preceded in death by his sister, Joyce, and brothers, John and Robert.

Family and friends are invited to an 11 a.m. visitation and noon Mass at St. Robert Parish, 4019 Farwell Ave. (corner of East Capitol Drive) Shorewood, Wis. on Saturday.

The family is requesting that donations be made to benefit cancer research.

The Schmidt and Bartelt Funeral and Cremation Service of Whitefish Bay is assisting the family with the funeral arrangements.