John Richard “Dick” Kulaas, Sr., 91, passed away on Oct. 22, 2018, in Wenatchee, Wash. He was born on Oct.17, 1927, in Minot, N.D., the second of three sons born to Harold and Dagna Olson Kulaas. He attended Minot High School, where he was a member of the Magicians football, basketball, and track teams, earning state track honors in both the high and low hurdles. Dad graduated from Minot High in 1945, and briefly attended Minot State Teacher's College, before the family moved to Decorah. At Decorah, he attended Luther College before transferring to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he enrolled in the College of Pharmacy, graduating in 1952.
In 1951, Dad followed Horace Greeley’s advice to “Go west, young man…” in order to serve his pharmacy internship. He traveled by train to Wenatchee, a place he had probably only just heard of a few months earlier, and began working at Thrifty Drug on the corner of Wenatchee Ave. and Palouse St. in downtown. It was at Thrifty Drug, where he met Patricia Cannon and the next 50-plus years of his life began to take shape. Mom and Dad were married at Grace Lutheran Church in Wenatchee on April 27, 1952. The family moved to Yakima, Wash., in 1955, where Dad continued his pharmacy career, before returning to Wenatchee, in 1966, when he became the pharmacy manager of the not-yet-opened Payless Drugstore in the new Valley North Mall. Although he retired from Payless after three decades of serving and helping thousands of customers, he continued filling in at area pharmacies until Mom decided his time was best spent with her at their home. They were married for 51 years before she passed away in 2003.
Dad was involved in a variety of organizations and endeavors over the years including being a 50-plus year member of Grace Lutheran Church, where he volunteered to serve in just about any capacity when help was needed. He belonged to the University of Iowa and Luther College alumni associations, and at various times the Sons of Norway, the Elks, and Wenatchee North (Confluence) Rotary. He was an avid fan of amateur-level basketball and attended many men’s and women’s high school and community college games. A native North Dakotan, he never complained about winter weather in Wenatchee, and was a natural on ice skates, downhill skiing, and loved swimming.
Dad, in partnership with Mom, created a home where their children were loved and well-provided for; a home where various family members and friends were always welcome; a home where grandchildren were delighted to visit; a home where there was always food and beverage if you needed it. Simply put, they created a home.
Dick Kulaas is survived by his children and their families: John Richard “Rick” Kulaas, Jr. of Auburn, Wash.; Mark and Kathleen Kulaas of Wenatchee, Wash.; and Kari and Dan Crial of Wenatchee, Wash.; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Patricia, he was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Robert Kulaas and David Kulaas ‘60; and his daughter and son-in-law, Stacy and Timothy Murphy.
A Memorial Service for John Richard Kulaas, Sr. was held on Nov. 3, 2018, at Grace Lutheran Church, 1408 Washington St., Wenatchee, WA.
Tributes in his honor may be made to the Washington Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Foundation. More information is available on the Internet at https://www.alz.org/alzwa.