Joseph John Kulas, 93, passed away Monday, December 18, 2017 at Box Butte
General Hospital in Alliance.
He was born March 19, 1924 in Alliance to Anton and Bessie (Krejci) Kulas
From 1944 to 1946 he served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII.
He was stationed in the Philippines in the south Pacific and was involved
with the occupation of Japan immediately following the end of the war.
On June 26, 1951 he was united in marriage to Eleen Ruth Prochazka at
St. Bridget Church in Hemingford. Joe was a lifetime Box Butte County farmer.
He was also an accomplished carpenter and enjoyed playing the accordion.
For a number of years he played the accordion as a member of the Sunshine
Trio with Lori White and Lee Messersmith. He also played at area nursing
homes along with his wife to entertain the residents. He was a member of both
St. Bridget and Holy Rosary Catholic Church’s, Knights of Columbus and
the Panhandle Country Music Association.
Joe was a devoted family man. He is survived by his children, Gary (Patty)
Kulas of Alliance, Mary (James) Yardley of Hemingford and Alma (Lee) Jerke
of Alliance, his grandchildren, Sarah Jeffers, Amber Yardley, Tyler (Amy) Kulas,
Ashley Yardley and Brandon Jerke, and his great-grandchildren, Owen, Bayden
and Loagen Meyer. He is also survived by his brother, Bernard Kulas of Alliance
and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Eleen, an
infant son, his grandson-in-law, Bill Jeffers, his brother, Leo, his sister-in-law,
Dorothy Kulas and his niece, Anita Kulas.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, December 22 at 10:00 a.m. at. St. Bridget
Catholic Church with Father Tim Stoner officiating. Burial will be in the Hemingford
Cemetery with military honors. A wake service will be Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at St.
Bridget Catholic Church. Visitation will be Thursday from 1-5 p.m. at the Bates-Gould
Funeral Home in Alliance and continue at the wake service.
Memorials may be given to St. Bridget or Holy Rosary Church.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.