Gary W. Purucker

Gary was a proud graduate of Chaney High School where he met his future wife, Nancy. He continued his education at Youngstown State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration.

His professional life was rich and varied. After graduating from Youngstown State, he joined Dow Chemical Company as a sales representative, leading him and his young family to New Jersey and later to Buffalo, N.Y. They remained in Buffalo for a decade where they made many lifelong friends. In 1983, Gary and family relocated to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where he eventually established his own custom home building company. For nearly 40 years in Palm Beach County, Gary excelled as an acclaimed and award-winning custom home builder. He was a transformative force in each of the prestigious communities in which he built homes. He left an indelible mark on these communities through his distinctive approach to custom home building. His thoughtful designs significantly influenced the character of the communities, creating an enduring legacy. His meticulous approach and dedication to excellence contributed to the quality of life in each of these communities.

Beyond his passion for building homes, Gary was an ardent Buffalo Bills fan. When not engrossed in football, he could be found in his favorite barber’s chair perfecting his impeccably coiffed hair or riding one of his Harley Davidson motorcycles in Florida, western New York, or the mountains of North Carolina, often accompanied by Nancy. He and Nancy relished traveling with friends across the U.S. and exploring various countries, including Italy, Hungary, and England. Gary shared the past few years with partner, Susan Klein. Gary enjoyed playing tennis, skiing in Colorado and cheering on the sidelines of his grandchildren’s sporting events. He particularly enjoyed the camaraderie of golfing with friends and family at Old Marsh Golf Club. Gary was a deeply loved and loving father, husband, brother, grandfather, uncle, and a true and loyal friend. The precious memories we have of him will be in our hearts forever.

Gary was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Nancy (Bondor) Purucker; his parents, Patricia Deskin Purucker and Richard Dale Purucker; a sister, Barbara Purucker Mastopietro and a brother, Thomas Purucker.

He is survived by his loving daughters, Sharla Purucker Blanz and Heather Purucker Bretzlaff, along with their respective spouses Robert Blanz and Craig Bretzlaff. Gary also leaves behind six grandchildren, Grant Bretzlaff, Jaxson Bretzlaff, Harrison Blanz, Charles Blanz, Emily Blanz, and Christopher Blanz; his brother, Patrick Purucker; his sister, Karen Purucker Frein; as well as many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass honoring Gary will be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Cathedral of St Ignatius Loyola, 9999 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418. Followed by a reception at Old Marsh Golf Club. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Jupiter Medical Center Anderson Family Cancer Institute.

The church service will be lived streamed through the church web-site: https://www.cathedralpb.com/