April 14, 2010

Deacon Kulinski conveyed God’s love

Deacon Jerome Kulinski died on April 7 following an extensive bout with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 86.

Jerome “Jerry” Kulinski was born in Detroit, Mich., on Sept. 28, 1923, to the parents of Polish immigrants from Warsaw.  He married Felima Sandoval on July 27, 1947, at Our Lady Queen of the Apostles Church in Detroit, and then entered the newly created U.S. Air Force.

When his mother-in-law died prematurely, he helped raise his wife’s three brothers and sister. The couple also raised three of their own children.  After settling down in Denver, he worked for DOW Chemical as a tool and die machinist.

Originally a parishioner at St. Dominic Parish, he was ordained a deacon in 1975 by Archbishop James Casey.  He was immediately assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Denver where he remained until his retirement in 1993.  Once there, he learned Spanish and was devoted to “working as a messenger of the love of God.”

“Deacon Jerry loved being a deacon and reflected his vocation in the encounters he had with others,” said Deacon Joe Donohoe, archdiocesan director of deacon personnel.

Deacon Kulinksi is survived by his wife, two of his children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

A funeral Mass was held April 13 at Guardian Angels Parish.  Internment services followed at Fort Logan Cemetery.