Gary Kula touched many lives. Mansfield First Assembly of God held a memorial service on Saturday, March 1 – and the sanctuary was packed with friends, family, co-workers and past students. They all had one thing in common however: Kula had worked his way into each of their hearts in a special way.
Kula passed away at age 68 on February 19, 2014. He had been living as a quadriplegic for eight years after an accident on a dirt bike. On the day of the accident, the doctors at the hospital informed his family that he might not make it through the day.
“But he did. He lasted eight years,” said Pastor Thomas Blair. During these eight years he and his wife, Ruthann, traveled the United States in a motor home, and made his home in Mansfield wheelchair accessible with the help of the church and friends.
The memorial provided informal sharing instead of a traditional funeral service. Ruthann Kula, Pastor Blair and former Staff Pastor Brent Salyers sat on three stools in front of the sanctuary and reminisced about the full life they experienced with Kula. They invited others to share stories of how he touched their lives. Many attendees passed the microphone around the room, each with a unique story or eulogy for Kula.
Salyers shared a story about a missions trip he and Kula enjoyed together. He was impressed by Kula’s gracious attitude. During an explanation of how to install a water heater, Kula didn’t chastise Salyers for patronizing him. Kula already knew how to install a water heater, but he didn’t let Salyers know that.
“He makes everyone look good. He could have said to me, ‘Look, you punk, I already know all of this stuff.’ but no, he just stood there and nodded. He made me feel important,” said Salyers.
Kory Kula of Colorado, Kula’s son, remembered him as a father who made him stronger and better as a husband, father and man. “Thanks for making me stronger and better. I love you, pop,” said Kory.
The memorial service evoked tears and sobs brought on by appropriate sadness, but the service was also full of laughter as many shared memories of how Kula lived life to the fullest. Brandon, who is married to his daughter Heather, spoke of his first encounter with his future father-in-law.
He described Gary Kula as a man who puffed his chest out when he spoke of his home (which he built by himself), and his Corvette. The way he talked about his things might have seemed arrogant to the people who did not know him, but according to Brandon, he was just genuine, and he always lived to the extreme. When Brandon showed interest in his bench press, (which was located in his garage), he immediately pressed a set.
He then invited Brandon along for a ride in his Corvette up and down the stomach-twisting hills of Milsboro Road. Brandon described the ride as “insane with neck-braking speed.”
After an exhilarating ride, Kula stopped the car. In what seemed like a foreshadowing moment, he handed over the keys to Brandon and offered to have him drive back to the house- symbolizing the offering of his daughter in marriage. In his first encounter with his future father-in-law, Brandon learned that Kula lived life to the fullest.
“He was not afraid to live. And he was not afraid to die. Death didn’t happen to Gary, he achieved it,” said Brandon.
Kula also taught at Ontario Middle School for over 30 years. The most treasured story is the one of the million bottle caps.
“He wanted to show the kids what a million of something looked like. So he did,” said Ruthann Kula.
The project took two to three years to complete – and the process literally stunk. Students and teachers present at the memorial service remembered the smell, which came from the fermented sugary residue found on the inside of the caps. Despite the stench, however, a million bottle caps were collected for the soul purpose of showing students what a million of something looked like.
Keith Strickler was a former student of Kula’s. As a teacher now, he realized that Kula was ahead of his time. His teaching methods foreshadowed those of the future.
“He was way ahead of his time. The way he got us thinking were not ways that things were done back then. I’m doing the same things he did as a teacher,” said Strickler.
In Kula’s last years of his life, he owned a monkey helper, planned his own funeral, and traveled with his wife. The monkey, named Addy, served as a neo-service animal. She would help Kula with everyday tasks, like tying shoes and turning on lights in the house.
“How many people do you know who have a monkey?,” asked Salyers. Everyone shared a laugh of simultaneous disbelief and understanding.
Kula also planned the memorial service by contacting people in his family and circle of friends to speak.
“I’m so thankful he did that (plan the service), because I have been able to just sit back and cry. … I wanted to be like him, because he was just awesome,” Ruthann Kula commented.
Son-in-law Brandon shared two quote that he believes wraps up Gary’s life and death. “A strong body makes the mind strong.” – Thomas Jefferson. And, “My death is no more than passing from one room to another.” – Helen Keller.
