Terrance "Terry" Richard Pulis

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 27, 2026 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Virginia with Fr. Peter Akudugu celebrating. Visitation will be one hour prior to Mass at the church. Interment will be in the Chisholm Calvary Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home of Gilbert. Memorials are kindly preferred in lieu of flowers.

Terrance “Terry” Richard Pulis, 77, of Mt. Iron died Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth surrounded by his family and prayers.

Terry was born on July 9, 1949 to George and Mary Ann (Gotchnik) Pulis in Winton, Minnesota. He spent his growing up years in Virginia and Ely. While in Virginia he attended Marquette Catholic School. Terry graduated from Ely High School, Class of 1968. He went on and received an AA from Vermilion Jr. College and then went to the Twin Cities with his college buddies. Terry returned to the Ely when the mines were booming and was hired by US Steel-Minntac at Pilotac on September 18, 1972.

Terry met his future wife, Betty Smith in November of 1972. The couple married one year later on November 10, 1973 at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Babbitt. Together they raised five children. Terry’s love language was service to others and he showed that through his ability to provide for his family despite ten years of shutdowns, lock outs, layoffs, and strikes of the late 1970’s and 80’s, during which Terry never missed a mortgage, utility or car payment. Terry truly enjoyed picnics with his family. It did not matter the time of year or weather; blazing sun, rain or snow, when Terry felt for a picnic, the family went on a picnic. His favorite picnic spot was Park Point on Lake Superior so he could go swimming in the “Big Lake”. Terry had an incredible ability to remember dates. That being said, he retired after working forty-three years, two months, and two days having never missed a shift. Following retirement, he and Betty enjoyed two trips to Italy and made fond memories of both.

Survivors include his wife of almost 53 years: Betty; daughters: Michelle (Jim) Sereno, Steph (Tim) Kniefel and Emilie (Amanda Lippincott) Pulis; grandchildren: Samantha (Connor Dudley) Pulis, Tim Pulis, Chloe (Nathan) Kniefel, Halie (Brady Peterson) Kniefel, and Madeline, Jack and Max Kniefel, Dom Sereno and Gage, Delaney and Myles Stuntebeck; great-grandchildren: Charlie, Cammi and Tate; two sisters: Vanessa Schanlaub and Justine (Dennis Burns) Carlson; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws.

He was preceded in death by his sons: Matthew and Daniel; daughter-in-law, Tempy; and his parents.