Gerald (Jerry) G. Kulina, 79, of Preston, NY, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, April 3, 2017 at home. Jerry was born on December 25, 1937 in Hazelton ,PA to George G. and Susan Zubatch Kulina. Jerry attended local schools in PA until the age of 17 when he and his parents moved to Mahwah,NJ. Jerry attended Ramsey High School for his senior year and graduated as part of the Class of 1955. Jerry then attended Fairleigh-Dickinson University for a time before enlisting in the U.S. Army. His military service took him to tours in Lebanon, other parts of the Middle East and Germany. Jerry was very proud of his service as a paratrooper attached to the 11th Airborne. He served from 1956-1959 when he was honorably discharged.

Jerry married Joan Lorenz at Immaculate Conception Church in Darlington, NJ on March 3, 1962.

He first worked at the Ford Motor Company plant in Mahwah,NJ before beginning his lifelong career with the telephone company working as a cable splicer at NJ Telephone. After Joan and Jerry moved to Oxford,NY in 1971, he continued his work as a cable splicer, working for C & U Telephone (now Frontier Communications) in Norwich,NY and then advancing career by going to work at NY Telephone (now Verizon) in Binghamton, NY. Jerry retired from Verizon as a design engineer after 35 years. Jerry was very widely respected for his depth of knowledge in the telecommunications industry.

Jerry is predeceased by his parents, George and Susan and his nephew, Stephen Johnson.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Joan and their three children: Gwen and James Hornbeck and their children: Britany, Baillie, Michelle, Lauren and Gerald (Jerry); Gregory Kulina and his children: Nash and Spencer; and Scott Kulina and his child, Sarah. He is also survived by his sisters-in-laws and brothers-in-laws: Roslyn and Ralph Remsing, Ocean Shores, WA; Irene and Robert Johnson, South Plainfield, NJ. Niece and her family: Kathi and Darren Ehlers, Park City, UT and their children Brenden and Jack.

Jerry was a man of amazing skill in a wide variety of tasks. Perhaps above all else, Jerry was industrious, determined, and hard-working. Jerry was a great husband and father. His family always was his first priority. He spent his whole life working hard to provide for them. He expected us to give our very best in everything we did as he gave his very best to everything he was a part of. We may have not have taken as many typical vacations as other families; instead we spent many weekends and vacations ripping down another and rebuilding an old wall in our house and renovating and building on to the family home. It was always adventure and we were always busy working together for our home and family. Jerry’s varied creative abilities and eye for design is evident in the magnificent stonework, cabinetry, and woodwork he designed and constructed himself for his home. The beautiful home and outbuildings he has built will stand for generations of our family to come to enjoy. All his projects, and there was always one!, were painstakingly planned to the last detail and he relished the work each project demanded from him. Every tree planted, every acre of lawn tended,and every piece of wooden furniture stained was done just the way he knew it had to be. Jerry formed many close relationships during his life. He was always eager to lend a helping hand and offer advice to assist family, friends, and neighbors by using his wealth of time, strength, and talent.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph’s RC Church, State St., Oxford. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Friends may call at the church from 10:00 AM until the time of the Mass.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Behe Funeral Home, 21 Main St., Oxford, NY.. Friends may share their memories and condolences at www.behefuneralhome.com