Deceased Members–2007

In Memory of Robert E. Pung

Robert E. Pung, FSA, MAAA, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and Oshkosh community servant, of Oshkosh died unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 4 at Mercy Medical Center. He was 75. Pung was born on Aug. 29, 1932 in St. Johns, Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1954. He met his wife and lifelong companion, Maryellen Doud, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, at MSU in 1952. They married in 1955 shortly before Pung was enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served for two years. Pung, Maryellen and family lived for 14 years in Milwaukee before moving to Oshkosh in 1973. Though it was a difficult transition, Oshkosh proved to be the ideal community for Pung and Maryellen to raise their seven children.

He put in many long days as senior vice president at Wisconsin National Life Insurance Company but still found time for family, friends, extensive community service and leisure. He passed the extremely difficult Fellowship of Actuaries Exams while working and raising his family. The family joined St. Mary Catholic Church upon moving to Oshkosh where Pung was involved over the years as lector, communion distributor and finance committee chair. His steadfast faith has been apparent in his life actions and an inspiration and example to his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed many activities including racquetball, tennis, skiing, golf, bowling, sailing, gardening and card games, especially bridge.

He believed strongly in supporting the community and he did so in very many ways with his time, talents and resources. His volunteer services in the Oshkosh community had been in leadership and other roles with The Mercy Foundation, United Way, Oshkosh Redevelopment, Chamco, The Oshkosh Symphony, YMCA, Oshkosh Foundation, The Oshkosh Library, St Mary's church, Downtown Rotary, Oshkosh City Council member, Mayor of Oshkosh and many others too numerous to mention. His lifestyle reflected his concern for generations to come and the legacy we all leave for those in the future—including recycling, composting, conservation of resources, and an aversion to wastefulness of any sort. He was a strong believer in giving to others and he did so generously and quietly. A forced early retirement was a blessing in disguise, which allowed him to nurture his travel and gardening passions as well as to spend countless treasured hours with his, wife, children, grandchildren and friends.

Pung is survived by wife, Maryellen; children Jeanne Hough, Julie (John) Leschke, Kathy (Gregg) Kishaba, Brian (Mary) Pung, Maureen (Judd) Ott, Terri (Mike) Fulton, and Tom (Kerstin) Pung; 22 grandchildren; siblings Jim (Rosemarie) Pung, Mary Tucker, Bruce (Rosalie) Pung, and Ruth (Ron) Bellaire; and nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be sent to the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation where a memorial has been established in Pung's name.