Harold Eric Puder

wisdom of our ancestors.

Alan Weir ….Eagle Vision

To Our Eagle

Our Guide, Our Wise Visionary

who ALWAYS strived To Learn,

To Teach, To Encourage, To Share

To be a Better Leader

To be a Better Man, A Best Friend

A Good Father, Husband, Provider,

To Live, To Love, To Laugh,

To Fly Higher

Love, laughter and song always

Deb

It is with broken and heavy hearts, that we sadly announce the passing of Harold, Eric PUDER, on a twilight summer's eve in August, at just 67 years young.

Better known as “Hal”, loving husband to Deb, and proud father of his children, Christopher, Jeffery and Melanie. Big brother to Ron, phone buddy with niece and nephew Selena and Brandon, and close to his dear cousin, Rosey. “Gramps” will also be dearly missed by his cherished grandchildren, Duncan and Caelyn . . . the newest beats in his heart.

Many of you will remember Hal as the “idea guy “, the salesman, the business owner, speaker, and mentor. Always ready to present new ways of looking at things and offer a lending hand where needed. Hal was a member and support of Crohn’s and Colitis, Market Place Leaders, Toastmasters, and Willow Park Church - to name a few. He was often asked to speak with young entrepreneurs and students.

As you know, Hal & Deb have been well-known owners of The Tickle Trunk and TTM Events for over 35 years. They have been huge community supporters in business as well. Hal was very generous with time and his “balloons” when it came to working with charities and nonprofit organizations. He and Deb have received many accolades over the years for this work. Just a month before his passing, Hal won recognition again, this year with the Best in Kelowna Gold award in their category. He and Deb were able to attend the ceremony together and personally receive the award. He was so happy and content. It was a very proud and emotional evening.

Hal’s constant willingness to learn, and change, to nurture people, contributed to the longevity of the business. He really got a kick when Children, now adult, reminded him Tickle Trunk decorated their parents wedding! They fondly reminisced of parties, Hal’s Halloween Fun, Makeup demos & the Ty Beanie Club as he tied balloons on new little wrists. There were Magic tricks, bad jokes, exploding pens and attempts to pull pranks on staff/customers, his preemptive snickering often giving it away!

(Some of us thought he went a bit far with the “fake lottery tickets” though). Or the time he challenged the smallest member of our staff into a Halloween box, climbing in willingly to prove “ I bet I can so fit”! Hal promptly taped it shut! 😁

He loved a good joke! except maybe once… We arrived home after a business trip to find our manager (equal prankster brother-in-law, Rob) had gone through the trouble to rewire our entire TV, CD player & stereo system, upside down! So many great stories to tell…

A man of many words….( LOL), his ‘Hal-isms’ and sense of humour brightened any room! He often imparted words of wisdom, encouragement and genuine caring for special occasions, or none at all. His hand written notes & cards made an exceptional, quirky and wonderful impact on their recipients. They were his gifts, and the kind you keep to read over and over again - to uplift you on challenging days, to revisit his advice…. to remind you of the great love and pride he held in his heart for you.

Hal also shared his words and wisdom by speaking at various functions and courses. He offered his “gift of words” ( whether you wanted to hear them or not 🙂 ) to friends and family, individuals and businesses….. even perfect strangers if he thought they might just need a little break or help along the way.

Hal always carried pen and paper and little note or thank you cards with him. He loved to leave them with shop clerks, wait staff, and good service people… sometimes being Hal, he would come back the next day and say “ I’d like to speak to your boss “ …. making them just a little uneasy before he praised them to their superiors leaving a smile on all faces.

In 2015, Hal was diagnosed with melanoma. He fought hard to stay positive and beat the disease and, after a successful surgery, he recovered and returned to his life - full throttle!

He loved his early morning bike rides, daily walks to talk to God and to visit and shake hands w/ ‘Hals Tree’ in Mission Park. "It made his whole day better", he would say. Nature always called us.… even to long walks with Deb in the rain or new snow you could hear falling at 4 AM that left only our footprints. He loved to fish and canoe and sit in the peaceful and explosive wonder of sunsets with Deb on their favourite beach. Or, through ANY forest rain or shine!

An avid skier, Hal’s dream came true when he got to take his grandkids skiing for the first time last year! What a great day! Big White and ski buddy, Mike, along with a close few that hit the hill often together, will surely miss him.

He LOVED to learn and listened to PODCASTS of every topic … so many we couldn’t keep up as he spilled out new info and things he learned every day! Between Hal and Deb there was never a shortage of ideas nor energy… Deb would often dream almost impossible things up and Hal would have to figure out how to build it! Once one of his own ideas became a reality when he had to build, assemble, and disassemble a life size igloo at a local venue all in one day! It and he were amazing!

Hal also loved family time, game nights, hiking, biking with Melanie and grandkids - more recently the joy of “throwing the football with Gramps” as something they will miss. He loved watching our old 90s VHS video of The Family Olympics shot at our family home on a shoestring budget LOL! If you haven’t already heard or been subjected to it… you may still!

He loved to tell stories about his kids, some favourites; Coaching Chris’s soccer team, fishing with Chris on a little lake and having a great talk while they waited out the rainstorm floating under the branches of a big tree on the shore. He loved to hear Chris talk about all the latest ideas he heard or had , the cool scientific fact he’d learned, the news or being outdoors at his mine. Sunday afternoon was for RISK with Deb and Chris. Skiing at big white watching the boys learn and snowboard also filled Hal’s heart. More recently just sharing some one on one time last Christmas w family. ( and of course re-watching family olympics!)

His bike ride with Jeff on the KVR was a favourite day! Fishing, and camping were activities they enjoyed as well and especially playing “Hotels” their favourite board game. He and Jeff loved to remember and laugh together at all the misadventures as kids and Jeffs run in with a maypole. More recently, watching Jeff overcome adversity and start his own business as “That Balloon Guy”

Hal would also light up when he talked about his daughter Melanie - the talented and wise woman she had become and the loving mother she had blossomed into. He admired Melanie’s involvement in Community Garden, Food CoOp and her passion for teaching others to grow food. Playing Trains, Hikes and talks at the kitchen table while Grams played with the kids. Their morning phone calls often made each other’s day and will be sorely missed.

He was happiest at Christmas when any or all of his children would come home!

Recently, on a visit with his grandkids, HAL gave them a grateful journal and told them to write one thing they were grateful for everyday…As he himself had been doing the last few years. Even now, Deb keeps finding books, loose pages and sticky notes with his hand-written words, love notes, points to ponder, writing, thinking, and plans for his next big idea!

Good Morning ❤️… gone for a bike ride🙂

Last, but certainly not least Hal was a HUGE Saskatchewan fan!! Game week, the greens would come out, shirt-socks and hat! Making a fan out of Deb, games were pre-recorded and became their night out on the couch with some wonderful dish or homemade pizza Hal created! For someone who once asked Deb how to boil water for the KD; he learned how to cook and loved it! Masterchef - Hells Kitchen and he loved MC Australia! Deb, of course, loved to be cooked for and is definitely missing her chef.

Hal wanted to do square foot gardening and when the heat, weeds and slugs had the last word he showed up one day with a new Plan a Tower Garden and his Urban Gardens Co. He grew fresh organic greens year round in a basement corner. Picking fresh salads in the dead of winter! Healthy and proud he boasted a pic of the 8’ long African basil drapes over his arms!

When Hal was diagnosed with cancer a second time, he stayed positive and optimistic while continuing to work, first at the store and then from home - taking calls and still filling books with ideas and plans for getting to Ryder stadium, camping across Canada, and a new business venture he had been working on since 2022-23, true to his heart which could have a positive impact to the well-being of seniors and their families. He just kept going, walking with his pole, then with 2. He even insisted on taking Deb for a 2 1/2 hr hike for what would be their last hike together to visit his tree. We spoke the present, shared memories, and the future.. we held on tight…

Family, friends and associates were inspired by his perseverance, positive attitude, and continued generosity.

Besides his affinity for being the Eagle and what it stood for in our family, in his work, in life…..

Deb had nicknamed Hal ‘McKnight’ many years before - for his good deeds and endless support. He called her his Sparrow… many a poem or song has been penned inspired by Hal and their time together. Her biggest fan, it brought him Joy to hear her sing or share her songs. Dec 27 would be their 40th Anniversary.

She always believed he was a Knight at Heart and on Aug 7th surrounded by family, Deb at his side…. he was visited by four ‘ brothers’ from Willow Park Church. They gathered around Hals bed outside in the garden at twilight under a huge curly willow tree. Each spoke lovingly of Hals character as a man and a friend. Of his courage and love and faith. We all sang and they spoke prayer and testament over him. There with the moonlight glistening off a shining long sword he was ‘knighted’ in Gods name. He reached out and took our hands, letting us know he heard every word.

Hal passed peacefully just an hour later having visited with his three children and his grandchildren. His brother, who had arrived that day and his extended family. Hal passed, no doubt less afraid with family around him and comforted by his faith.

He is surely up there watching over us all, sending messages - watch and listen for him - likely negotiating with God for a white horse to go with his armour on whatever his next journey may be. We will miss him so very much!

Please watch this site and facebook for announcements regarding C.O.L. (there will 3 opportunities to joining us to celebrate Hal … Thank you to those who helped and came to join us for the walk to Hal’s tree on November 10 - a small gathering in Jan at Big White for the skiers and then Spring 2025 for another visit to the park - a bike ride and perhaps a concert).

Cards, Sentiments and hugs so very welcome send to Hals Puders or facebook page or drop to the new Tickle Trunk .. 105- 2041 Harvey Ave V1Y 6G7. Around the corner from woodfire bakery - where they will be shared with family. We will have a tree there for you to share your thoughts , memories or messages (pens and sm wood cards provided).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to “the Gutsy Walk /Crohn's & Colitis Kelowna at the following link: https://crohnsandcolitis.ca/Location/British-Columbia-Yukon/Kelowna

We are hoping we may get a park bench for Hal later this year…So anyone can go have a rest/visit anytime. Meantime we will watch for messages there. ( As soon as we make a map LOL! )

The family wishes to thank all the doctors and nurses at the KGH cancer clinic, hospice and our own dedicated staff and dear friends.