Jesse Joseph "Punk" Houle III

Jesse "Punk" Houle III, 69, of Hiles, WI passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 13th, 2023 at home surrounded by his loving family.
Jesse was born September 25, 1953 in Laona, WI to Jesse and Betty (née Bonack) Houle. At a young age Jesse was given the nickname "Spunky" which evolved into what we all know as "Punk". Punk graduated from Crandon High School in 1971, marrying his first wife shortly after and having two children.
Punk's sense of adventure and passion for logging led him out west multiple times. One of these adventures brought him to the love of his life, Crystal Couture, in Bellingham, WA. The two decided to return to Hiles, WI to begin their life together. They were married on June 6, 1981 and have worked hard to plant their roots on beautiful Pine Lake. Punk has six wonderful children: Jesse, Kristy, Tonya, Stephanie, Melanie, and Danny - who he loved dearly and was extremely proud of.
Punk spent his career logging and trucking, and when he wasn't at work he was passionate about using his hands in any way possible - from mechanics, carpentry, welding, and more- he was a man of many gifts. Throughout his logging career, much of his experience and knowledge gained, he accredited to his early years working for his Uncle Junior, whom he truly looked up to.
Punk competed often as a young man, receiving many accolades and breaking records in logging competitions and stock car racing. He even held a record at the Tomahawk Speedway, spending time with legends like Dick Trickle. He had a clear love for his bikes, cars, and trucks - especially his Corvettes and his '36 Chevy, and proudly put over 3 million miles driving his log trucks.
Given the endearing non-traditional Native American nickname "Teacher" by his mother-in-law, he truly embodied ingenuity, hard work, and the meaning of "giving the shirt off his back". He enjoyed showing off his skills for his family and community and loved helping others in any way possible, never expecting anything in return. You could find him saying "How bad is it, do I need the skidder or the log truck?" before pulling someone out of a ditch or offering a spare part. His bigger than life personality came through in everything he did - bonfires, patriotic decor, fireworks, skidders, ultralight planes - he was larger than life in all things, especially his heart.
Punk's greatest treasure in life was spending time with his kids, grandkids, and Crystal. He was a devoted father who enjoyed taking the family on camping outings, cross-country Griswold vacations, and being in attendance at his children's and grandchildren's events. He enjoyed sharing his love for hunting, fishing, skiing, and being on the lake with everyone around him. Punk was always up for an adventure and welcomed life with open arms. He left a legacy that will live on forever - "good fun boys, good fun".
Punk built a family on strong morals and a sense of togetherness - when he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in 2021 he fought every day for them, and with them by his side.
When you spoke to Punk, or "Papa" to the little ones, he was sure to proudly tell you about his children and their spouses, Jesse (Sara) Houle, Kristy Roberts, Tonya (Paul) Cleereman, Stephanie (Jonny) Cleereman, Melanie (Jake) Flannery, and Danny (Maria) Houle. If you stuck around long enough, you heard stories about his 17 grandchildren - Cassidy, Sam, Spencer, Sydney, Chelsie, Paulie (deceased), Trevor, Carsyn, Ave, Reece, Cienna, Jonny, Deonna, Irelynn, Gunner, Bowynn, and Rogan and his two great-grandchildren, Mariah and Hudson.
A memorial service will take place on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 11am at Christ Lutheran Church in Hiles, with a Celebration of Life to follow at 1pm at the Hiles Town Hall, the family would like to invite all to attend. Please bring any Punk stories and pictures, we would love to share them with family and friends, as we know there are many. Punk will be missed tremendously but his spirit and legacy will live on forever through his kids and grandkids.
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