Ruth Kulas

Ruth Kulas, of Stevens Point, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her children, on March 9, 2026, at Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital, at the age of 88.

Born on March 7, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, Ruth was the daughter of the late Louis and Ann (Harrer) Stoeberl, who had recently immigrated from Germany. She became a big sister in 1940 with the birth of her sister, Susan, and the family moved to Grand Marsh, Wisconsin, in 1943. There she enjoyed an idyllic childhood filled with bicycle rides, croquet games, and searching for four-leaf clovers. After graduating from Adams-Friendship High School in 1955, Ruth attended Central State Teachers College, now UW-Stevens Point, earning a degree in English with a minor in German in 1959.

Shortly after high school, Ruth met Greg Kulas at the Newman Club, becoming engaged in August 1957. They married on January 2, 1960, at Sacred Heart Church in Winnetka, Illinois. The couple lived in Waterford, where Ruth taught English and German while Greg pursued his master’s degree, before settling in Stevens Point in 1961. They purchased their home on Church Street in 1966, where they raised their seven children over the next 49 years. In 2016 they moved to a more accessible home on Jordan Lane, and Ruth spent her final year thriving at Dimensions.

Ruth was a woman of remarkable creativity and drive. She wrote poetry, crafted handmade cards using her own photography, and quilted on her 1957 Elna sewing machine, participating in three different quilt groups. She made quilts for her children, grandchildren, friends, and many years for Pacelli Panacea. An avid gardener, she preserved her harvest through canning and freezing, and delighted in cooking and baking for those she loved. She remained close to childhood friends, the “Grand Marsh Girls,” cheered daily for her beloved Chicago Cubs, and found joy in reading, word games, Sudoku, and listening to NPR.

Deeply devoted to her faith, Ruth and Greg were founding members of the Newman University Parish in 1970 and later active at Holy Spirit Parish. She served as a lector, eucharistic minister, musician, and lay minister, while also cooking meals, sewing banners and garments, and reading the creation story at the Easter Vigil for twelve years. She proudly led La Leche League from 1967 to 1985.

Ruth is survived by her children, Gregory (Kathy), Stephen (Pam), Mary (Kevin), Michael (Anita), Christopher (Nicole), David, and Thomas (Donna); her grandchildren, Daniel (Grace), Michael (fiancé Gabby), Sarah, Noah, Maddie, Lydia, Emily, Sophia, Claire, Michael, Katie (fiancé Natalie), Leah, Paul, Andrew (Jessica), Jack, Samuel, Jacob and Kaleigh; and her first great-grandchild, due in September. She is also survived by her sister, Susan Stoeberl; brothers-in-law Ken Kulas and Ric (Lorry) Walters; nieces, nephews, godchildren, her Holy Spirit family, and many dear friends and former neighbors. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Greg, her parents, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.