Oleta “Pauline” Kulp of Stratford, WI, entered into the joy of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at 7:10 PM on January 26, 2019 after a short battle with recurrent cancer. She was in her own home surrounded by her loved ones and under the exceptional care of Ministry Home Care Hospice services.
Pauline was born March 15, 1938 in Dover, Ohio, to Daniel and Erma (Christner) Miller. At the age of 8, she was placed in the home of Enos and Esther Martin of Wakarusa, IN, where she spent her growing up years.
She married Reuben Kulp of New Paris, IN on January 5, 1964. Pauline and Reuben were sweethearts, and their tender love held strong through every storm. They adjusted well to the changes life handed them. They moved from Indiana to Wisconsin in 1979 and worked with their family on a dairy farm for the next ten years until their children were raised. Reuben and Pauline were a perfect team. Pauline kept the house running smoothly while Reuben was trucking over the road to support them financially. Later, when her sweetheart was enduring chronic pain, Pauline loved and supported him in every possible way.
When Pauline bravely fought through breast cancer in 2009 and incredible health challenges in the years following, Reuben loved her well. In spite of their health issues, they tended a vegetable garden together. Reuben dreamed, planted, watered, harvested and marketed, while Pauline hoed, pulled weeds, preserved food and blessed family and friends with their bounty. When Reuben died six months ago, Pauline promised him she would be with him soon. After 55 years of loving and serving each other, they couldn’t stay apart long.
Pauline lived a full and happy life. To know her was to be welcomed into her home and conversations, usually for a piece of pie and plenty of coffee. She always made time for visitors and made their comfort her priority. Her love of people and life was irresistible, and her laughter infectious. She always took time for the little and the least, whether it was nursing an unfortunate creature back to health, reviving an old houseplant that had been left to wither, or refurbishing some unwanted piece of ratty furniture. She was creative, innovative and resourceful and she up-cycled long before it was the Thing to Do.
Pauline was preceded in death by her biological parents; her foster parents; her only brother, Walter Miller; tiny little lives (children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren) that were born too soon; and her dear husband, Reuben.
Survivors include her five children, John (Twila) Kulp of Mosinee, WI; Bob (Laura) Kulp of Stratford, WI; Mike (Reyna) Kulp of Stratford, WI; Margaret (Mark) Troyer of Maricopa, AZ; Marjorie (Mark) Weaver of Stratford, WI; 28 grandchildren, 10 spouses of grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren who are expected in the near future; several in-laws; numerous nieces and nephews, and many friends.
The Kulp family welcomes friends and relatives to join us as we say good-bye to the dearest lady we have ever known.
Visitation will be Thursday, January 31, 2019 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at B3750 State Highway 13, Spencer, WI, from 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00PM.
Funeral services will be on Friday, February 1, 2019, also at St. John’s, at 10:30 AM.
