In Memoriam : Harry Kulick

Harry Kulick - age: 92
(December 06, 1920 to July 18, 2013 )
Resident of Three Rivers, California

Visitation Information:
Visitation will be held on Friday, August 23, 2013 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Three Rivers Memorial Building, 43490 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers, CA. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 9:00 AM at St. Clements of Alexandria Church, 498 North Valencia Blvd, Woodlake, CA. Burial will follow at the Three Rivers District Cemetery.

Obituary:
Harry Kulick passed away, quietly and surrounded by family at his home in Three Rivers, CA. Harry was 92 years old. Harry was the son of John and Eva Kulick of Granite City, Illinois. Harry was always industrious, selling newspapers on the corner, picking up scrap iron to be sold and grazing the family milk cow to help his family. In 1935, he enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC’s) and went to work in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Harry always lamented about the tough and frustrating work of fighting peat bog fires there, which were notoriously hard to put out. Upon his discharge from the CCC’s and returning home his father gave him all the monies that he made in the C’s and required to be sent home, thus giving him his first financial start in life.
Harry and Rose Koroby were married on October 18, 1941. Harry then enlisted in the US Army in 1942. Harry often remembered that Rose had to sign her approval for him to enlist in the Army. He got his first look at the west by training with the 741st Tank Battalion as a tank driver in the Mojave Desert in preparation for operations in North America. Ultimately, the 741st made the initial landing of Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, where his tank was one of the only three out of 30 in his group to actually make it ashore and fight the day long against axis forces. Harry soon became tank commander and participated in heavy fighting, including the Battle of the Bulge, through France, Belgium and across the Rhine into Germany. During this service, he was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery under fire.
After being discharged from the Army, the call of the west brought Harry, Rose and his first son Harry Jr. to Sacramento. After a few years, they decided to look for a smaller town to raise their children and moved to Visalia where Harry quickly found work with Sears and Roebuck. Harry worked at the Main Street Sears store for 14 years where he was in charge of electrical, hardware, painting and toys. While in Visalia, Harry and Rose were blessed with three more boys, John, Michael and George. His boyhood experiences of being his own boss fueled his desire to start hi own business. In 1957, Harry and Rose purchased land along Highway 198 in Three Rivers, where in 1961, they opened the Kaweah General Store. The family finally moved to Three Rivers after John and Harry graduated from Mt. Whitney High School. Harry continued to build and expand the successful business, “selling a little bit of almost everything” until they retired in 1982.
Harry and Rose continued to be an active part of Three Rivers throughout retirement. Harry was commander of the VFW Post #3939 for multiple years and also served for many years on the Memorial Board during key years of reconstruction of the facility. They also remained active members of St. Clements Anglican Church in Woodlake.
Harry was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Rose and by his two eldest sons, Harry Jr. and John, and one great grandson. He is survived by his two sons Michael Kulick of Mariposa, CA and George Kulick of Three Rivers. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St, Clements Anglican Church, 498 North Valencia, Woodlake, CA 93286 in memory of Harry Kulick.







Irene Seminario-Garcia - August 22, 2013Contact this person Contact this person
May your Dad rest in perpetual peace next to your Mom, you have been given another Angel in Heaven. Three Rivers won't be the same without him.