Richard Pentuk
Richard Pentuk, 55, of Peters Township, formerly of Arnold, passed away Friday, November 23, 2012, at Donnell House hospice care center in Washington.
He was born July 20, 1957, a son of the late Walter and Helen Pentuk.
Mr. Pentuk was the beloved husband of Alice Dolinar Pentuk; adoring father of Heleyna Lyn Pentuk and stepson Max Stillwagon; and brother of Carolyn Banichar (Robert Reczynski) and Robert Pentuk (Ellen Spiegel). Also surviving are a nephew, Jeffery Pentuk; a niece, Brianna Pentuk; and aunts, uncles, cousins and lifelong friend John Valasek.
He had many accomplishments throughout his life, including graduating from Purdue University while serving six years in the U.S. Air Force. He was stationed at K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan. He was a navigator on B-52 bombers and achieved the rank of captain. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University, earning his master of business administration degree, and accepted the vice president position with Wells Fargo Bank in Seattle, Wash. In 2004, he founded the HELP Preemies Fund at Overlake Hospital Medical Center, in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, in Bellevue, Wash. This fund was established when his daughter, Heleyna, was born premature. The fund assisted other premature and special-needs babies and their families by providing preemie clothing for babies in the center as well as CPR classes, lodging for commuting families and car seats.
His hobbies included traveling, and he loved baseball, football, fishing and following the stock market. In his youth, he enjoyed flying Cessna planes while training to become a pilot.
Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, November 26, where a funeral service will immediately follow at 7 p.m. at Cremation & Funeral Care by Danielle Andy Belusko, 3287 Washington Road, McMurray. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his name to Pentuk Preemies Fund, Overlake Hospital Medical Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 1035 116th Avenue NE, Bellevue, WA 98004. Please view and sign the family’s guest book at www.cremationfuneralcare.com.