Connor J. Puhlman Memorial Fund for Youth
David and Lee Ann Puhlman, longtime residents of Mt. Pleasant, taught their son the importance of playing an active role in his community. Connor J. Puhlman, born on November 13, 1998, enjoyed the outdoors, was a skilled hunter, and loved to fish. With his thoughtfulness and high-energy spirit, he was a mini-entrepreneur, starting Connor’s Creations. Connor enjoyed inventing new ways to make things work, and could often be found working on trucks. He considered design engineering and entrepreneurial business likely career possibilities. Like many 16-year-old boys, Connor enjoyed a variety of sports, including basketball and baseball. A junior at Sacred Heart Academy, Connor died in a motor vehicle accident on August 20, 2015.
The Puhlmans want their son’s memory to live on. “We cannot actively parent him, but we can build his legacy and accomplish some of the good he wanted to do in this world,” Lee Ann said. The Puhlmans believe we all need to work together to help youth in the area thrive. “Every one of us can contribute to the health, well-being, and safety of children so our strong community’s future is supported.”
“We were just getting to see how our son thought as a young man, and what his priorities were,” shared Lee Ann. “When a child dies, they do not have the opportunity to choose their own legacy; we need to help them do that.” The Puhlmans established the Connor J. Puhlman Memorial Fund for Youth in 2017. This field-of-interest fund will award grants to charitable organizations in Isabella County that impact the lives of youth by helping them reach their fullest potential.
