Leon Richard Kulaw

CATTARAUGUS - Leon Richard Kulaw, 44, died Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at Olean General Hospital in Olean, N.Y.

He was born Feb. 3, 1965, in Buffalo, the son of the late Andrew Serwinowski and Hilda (Ryles) Serwinowski of Panama City, Fla.

He worked for Randolph Machinery for 12 years, and was a truck driver for R & L Smith Trucking, where he worked for several years. He was a member of the Cattaraugus Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as assistant chief for several years. He was a social member of the Little Valley Legion, VFW in Little Valley and the Moose Lodge in Gowanda.

He will be remembered as a great husband, father and ''Poppy.''

Besides his birth mother, he is survived by his wife, Rhonda Kulaw of Cattaraugus, whom he married on Aug. 30, 1986; two sons, Jason M. Dash of Cattaraugus, and William A. Kulaw of Cattaraugus; a daughter, Erin L. (Michael) White of Little Valley; two brothers, Ronald Serwinowski and Michael Glenn of Panama City, Fla.; a sister; Mary Poole of Panama City, Fla.; a step-sister, Tammy (Randy) Lovings of Zephyr Hills, Fla.; one grandson, Nicholas Dash of Sinclairville; three granddaughters, Tatum White of Little Valley, Karleen Dash of Mayville, and Autum White of Little Valley.

He was adopted when he was about two years old and is preceded in death by parents, Leon Kulaw and Gertrude (Dorothy) Kulaw.

The public is invited to visitation at Hills Funeral Chapel, 55 S. Main St., Cattaraugus, on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Family suggests memorials to Cattaraugus Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 44, Cattaraugus, NY.

A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family. The Rev. Michael R. Jones of Roberts Memorial Free Methodist Church will be officiating.