John Robert Kulla

ìI have loved and been loved and am grateful; take care of yourself because no one else can.î John Robert Kulla John Robert Kulla was born January 15, 1954 in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the son of Raymond Elmer and Margaret Marie (Burns) Kulla. Johnís family moved several times when he was young following his fatherís employment, but he mostly grew up in Arlington Heights, Illinois. John enjoyed playing football in high school where he was named all-conference for the Hersey High School Huskies in Arlington Heights, graduating in 1972. John was recruited by the University of Tulsa where he played linebacker for the Golden Hurricane from 1972 to 1977 since he was red-shirted a year. ìI love to hit ì is a phrase frequently heard from him while reminiscing about his football career. After receiving his Bachelors of Science in Education from the University of Tulsa, Johnís dream of becoming a teacher and coach was fulfilled when he started his career as an educator, teaching and coaching football for two years at Berryhill. While there, he was given the opportunity to return to the University of Tulsa as a graduate assistant where he received his Masters of Science in Education. John was contacted shortly after that by Mannfordís head football coach, John Whittenborn to join him at Mannford High School as an assistant football coach. John met Susan McGinnis on a blind date on January 12, 1979 while John was teaching at Berryhill. They were united in marriage on July 29, 1983 at the University of Tulsa Sharp Chapel. Susan was born and raised in Prue where her father was the superintendent for thirty years so the couple built a home there and raised their daughter, Tionna. As an educator, John strived to recognize the enormous potential of each student and assist them in becoming the best person possible. He often said that one thing he would spend less time doing was worrying about grading papers. John continued throughout his teaching and coaching career to be a positive role model for his students. He truly loved his students and athletes and insisted on encouraging them both on and off the field. He lived by the philosophy of having no great expectations today and to learn by seeing the small things in life. In addition to his love of teaching and coaching, his role as husband, father and grandfather was extremely important and an accomplishment of which he was proud. He felt that his mother and her love had one of the greatest effects upon his life instilling in him the love of history and learning. Learning unconditional love from his wife, Susan and having a wonderful daughter and two grandchildren completed him and provided him with the sense of family he always wanted. His love for his family motivated John to travel through life on a vessel of integrity, faith, hard work and dedication to purpose. By following these characteristics, John was able to obtain his goals and provide happiness to himself and his family. John spent countless hours reading, enjoying civil war re-enactments, gardening, completing crossword puzzles and listening to Beethoven and folk music. He often said that one of his most memorable times was traveling with Susan on a ten day vacation to Europe in 1997; traveling to Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic and many other countries. Actually seeing many of the places that he taught about in his world history classes was a great adventure. Having few regrets, John would have spent more time with his family and traveled more with his wife. He realized that spending more time with his brothers, sisters and cousins would also have been on his agenda. He also said that he would have drank whole milk and eaten real butter. He would like to have marched on the Gettysburg Battlefield with his grandson, Coleton and taken his granddaughter, Julie to Big Splash. John was extremely proud that his daughter, Tionna furthered her education by obtaining her Bachelors from Oklahoma State Univeristy and then her Masters from the University of Oklahoma. He exhibited great pride in the birth of his two grandchildren and often expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to attend the University of Tulsa and further his own education; providing him the ability to teach and coach. John and Susan were parishioners at Christ the King Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma where they attended Mass regularly. John was actively involved with the National Honor Society at Mannford, a member of the 22nd Arkansas Civil War re-enactors, served as the Mannford Education Association president for a term, was selected Teacher of the Year in 2009, and viewed each of his students and athletes as extended family members. ìSome kids just need a break,î is a quote spoken by John referencing some of his students. John was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Elmer and Margaret Marie Kulla; and a brother, James Kulla. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly thirty years, Susan; a daughter Tionna Kulla-Archer and her husband Ronnie of Prue, Oklahoma; his two grandchildren, Coleton Robert Kulla and Julie Elizabeth Kulla of Prue, Oklahoma; two brothers, Ray Kulla and his wife Kathleen of St. Peteís Beach, Florida and Don Kulla and his wife Amy of Mundelein, Illinois; two sisters, Anne Kielbasa and her husband Jack of Chicago, Illinois and Mary Kulla-Foss and her husband Marty of St. Louis, Missouri; numerous other relatives, friends, fellow educators and students who will mourn his passing. John passed from this life on Thursday, April 4, 2013 at the Green Tree Assisted Living Center in Sand Springs, Oklahoma at the age of fifty-nine. John would leave everyone with this thought and quote from Franklin Delenor Roosevelt from his first inaugural address, ìOnly thing we have to fear is fear itself.î Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm, Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at the Mannford High School Gymnasium with Pastor Garry McDevitt officiating. Burial will be at the Prairie View Cemetery in Prue under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Serving as pallbearers will be Don Gifford, Jeremy Bunch, Kelly Spradlin, Michael Wasson, Mike Cavenah and Kyle Genzer. Honorary pallbearers are Benny Goodman, Bobby Goodman and Kenith May. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials in memory of John Kulla be sent to Susan Kulla, P. O. Box 175, Prue, Oklahoma 74060. All donations will be given to the Mannford High School weight room in Johnís memory. Friends may share a memory with the family at the funeral home or online at www.chapman-black.com