Barbara Kulas

BARBARA J. (PFLUGHOEFT) KULAS

Barbara J. (Pflughoeft) Kulas, age 68, of Winona, passed away on Sunday, February 21, 2016, at Lake Winona Manor.

Barb was born on October 14, 1947, in Winona, to Lawrence Arthur and Shirley Jean (Boettcher) Pflughoeft.

She was employed with Marriage and Family Counseling of Winona as their manager, and she then went on to work with Home and Community Options of Winona as their support liaison.

Barb was a strong advocate for battered women, and she volunteered and served on the board of the Winona Women’s Resource Center.  While at Home and Community Options, Barb worked as an advocate for the rights of the disabled.  Her lobbying efforts at the state capitol were recently recognized and personally acknowledged by State Representative Gene Pelowski.

She will be remembered for her love of animals and her enjoyment of keeping up to date on political issues.

Barb is lovingly survived by her son: Keith (Paula) Kulas, Winona; grandsons:  Lee (Bria) Kulas, Rochester, MN, and Ryan Kulas, Winona; mother, Shirley Jean Pflughoeft; brothers and sisters: Bonnie (Jim) McGowen; Robert (Kathy Seifert) Pflughoeft; Larry (Marge) Pflughoeft; Kathi Pflughoeft; and Jerry (Jannette) Pflughoeft; nieces and nephews: Vicki, Wendi, Nathan, Max, Stacey, Nicole, Amanda, and Kyle; aunts and uncles: Lorraine Spalding and Raymond and Elaine Pflughoeft; as well as many other relatives and friends, including her extended family at Home and Community Options.

She was preceded in death by her father, Lawrence Arthur Pflughoeft; and an infant sister, Vickie Lynn Pflughoeft.

Funeral services will be held at 1 PM on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home, 201 Mankato Avenue, Winona.

Barb will be laid to rest at Bush Cemetery, Ridgeway.

Visitation will be held at the Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 23, 2016, from 4 PM until 8 PM, and again on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, from 12 Noon until the time of the service.

Pallbearers will be: Ryan and Lee Kulas; and Robert, Larry, Jerry, and Kyle Pflughoeft.

Memorials may be directed to Home and Community Options of Winona or to the Winona Area Humane Society.

Online condolences or memories may be left for Barb’s family at www.watkowski-mulyck.com.