Stephan M. Kulick

Stephan Michael Kulick, age 63, passed away on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at his Town of Ripon home with his family by his side. 

Steve was born on April 21, 1961 in Palo Alto, Calif. He was the son of Ronald and Benita Josephine Kulick. He graduated from Pacelli High School in Stevens Point, Wis., and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. 

On Aug. 8, 1987, Steve married Jodi Pieczynski at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stevens Point, Wis. 

Before he retired four years ago, Steve was a project manager for the commercial and multi-family division of Stock Lumber/Wisconsin Building Supply. He first worked at Fullerton Lumber when the Kulicks moved to Ripon, after learning much of his woodworking skills under the guidance of Eric Belke from Belke Lumber in Stevens Point. Shortly before Steve passed, son Max asked him if there is any possession he wanted to make sure the family retained. “My tools,” he said earnestly. 

Steve was a builder in many ways. When not working or being with the love of his life Jodi and best buddy Max, Steve enjoyed hunting, fishing and many civic activities: Ripon Early Bird Kiwanis, East Central Wisconsin Tractor Cruise, Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area, Wings over Wisconsin, coaching youth baseball and it may now be told — Steve was the Cookie Monster at Cookie Daze. 

Steve was a member of St. Catherine of Siena, and his love for God was steadfast. But he never felt closer to his creator than when he was outdoors, on his property, riding his tractor working his food plots to plant and harvest crops for Max and his family, improving the environment through glacial preservation and land restoration efforts, planting trees, and preparing the Marchant property south of Berlin for a future Boys & Girls Club camp. 

In his later years, Steve adored his grandchildren Charlie Jo and Harvey. Any time he was with them he relished the opportunity to create “spontaneous adventures,” to make each day unlike any other. That’s how he lived his life: trusting in God, caring for others and recognizing that life is an adventure to be relished and even death is an adventure to be accepted. In life, Steve loved no one more than his dear Jodi. 

Survivors include his wife, Jodi; son, Max (Megan); and grandchildren, Charlie Jo and Harvey of Mt. Horeb, Wis.; mother, Benita Kulick of Stevens Point; sisters, Lisa Kulick and Julie (John) Grogan; and brothers, Bob (Bridget) and Peter (Michaele) Kulick; mother-in-law, Evelyn Pieczynski; in-laws, Mike and Susan Pieczynski, Shawn and Mindy Kottke and Robb and Jessica Pieczynski; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Kulick; father-in-law, Joseph Pieczynski; grandparents, Chester and Irma Kulick, and Boniface and Santana Gonzales. 

Visitation for Steve will be on Friday, Aug. 2 from 9:00 am to noon at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 228 E. Blossom St., Ripon, WI, 54971. 

A funeral service will be held following the visitation on Friday, Aug. 2 at noon at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Ripon, with Father Chuck Wrobel officiating. A luncheon will follow.

In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make a donation in Steve’s name to the Ripon Early Bird Kiwanis Club, PO Box 575, Ripon, WI 54971.