James (Jim) Kulka

1933 ~ 2018

James (Jim) Kulka, of Picture Butte, beloved husband of the late June Kulka, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2018 at the age of 84 years.

Jim is lovingly remembered by his two daughters, Shirley Gibb, and Eleanor (Russell) Fornataro, his four grandchildren; Troy (Michelle) Gibb, Corrie Gibb, Nathan (Kelly) Fornataro, and Matthew (Meghan) Fornataro, his eight great-grandchildren, Patrick, Camden, Drew, Faith, Austin, Bo, Brooklyn and Leo, his brother and sister in-law, Allan (Barbara) Kulka of Nixa, Missouri, his brothers and sisters in-law; Ruth (Jack) James, Betty Moriyama, Pat (Harold) Adair, and Eugene (Betty Ann) Stauffer, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

Besides his loving wife, Jim was predeceased by his parents George and Nancy Kulka, his mother and father in-law, Earl and Alberta Stauffer and his brother in-law Harpo Moriyama.

After spending his youth in Vancouver, Jim and his family moved to Lethbridge where in high school, he met his wife June and they were later married in August of 1953. He worked for over 40 years at Revelstoke Home Centre, starting in Acme, then to Picture Butte for 35 years, and finally retiring from the Lethbridge Store in 1998.

He was an avid golfer and loved to curl and hunt. His love of fishing found him spending many years with friends and family at Duck Lake, Montana. Over his 60 years living in Picture Butte, he was very active with the Elks Club, the Picture Butte Curling Club, town activities and was one of the Founding Members of the Picture Butte Golf Club.

In his retirement Jim enjoyed all of his hobbies and in these past few years his daily morning coffee at the Cactus with his friends was a highlight of his day.

Jim will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. At Jim’s request there will be no funeral. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jim can be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, Box 2211, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 4K7 or the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Suite 408, 740 – 4 Avenue South, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1J 0N9.