Sugar Grove
By Paula Mitchell
The late Rev. Siegfried “Siki” Kullman was a much-loved neighbor, community worker, and beloved minister touching the lives of hundreds of people, ministering to them during times of joy and sorrow. The question is how he came to be in Pendleton County when he was born Aug. 15, 1906, at Chernowich, Austria?
His father, Jacob, was encouraged for health reasons to move to America and since there were family members living in Saskatchewan, Canada, he went there to live. Once settled, he sent for his wife, Gertrude Strobel Kullman, and three sons, Rudy, Siki, and William. Regina, a city in the province of Saskatchewan, became home for the family with Trinity Lutheran Church their home congregation.
Siki’s education consisted of being a student at Melville Academy, and Luther College in Regina, Saskatchewan, Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, (known today as Trinity Lutheran Seminary). His first call was to Frabisher, Saskatchewan in 1934 where he served this rural community with a horse, saddle, and a Bible.
A seminary classmate suggested to the bishop that the South Fork Lutheran Parish in West Virginia would be a good area for Siki to serve. Siki accepted this call and was installed in August 1937. This parish consisted of Mt. Olive at Peru, and St. Luke, Mt. Zion, St. Paul and St. John at Moyers, with New Hope at Minnehaha Springs added to the mix.
There is something to be said when working for the Lord’s service in this parish. He met and fell in love with Mamie White (Dec. 5, 1899 – March 6, 1982) who was the organist at New Hope in Minnehaha Springs. They married on Sept. 26, 1939.
During his 40-year ministry, he visited each home annually, conducted almost 200 marriages, more than 600 baptisms, almost 499 confirmations, and more than 300 funerals. He rendered a great service to the church, preaching the love of Christ which brings healing, sought to heal relationships between people, saw humor in life and at himself, and was a father figure to many. A great-niece of Siki’s, Pam Pritt of Hillsboro, recalls how much he loved the people in his churches, how much his service to the Thorn Spring Parish meant to him, and how much they were treated like family by their community. The example he set meant more to her than any words he could have said from a pulpit. Siki loved and thrived on being with people. He was very committed to his family even though they were thousands of miles away.
Upon his retirement, he and Mamie purchased a home in Franklin, and attended Faith Lutheran Church. Mamie had spent many years being ill, and throughout that time, Siki was always by her side. She succumbed on March 6, 1982.
Rev. Kullman’s service continued all of his life. He was involved in 4-H, the Crippled Children Committee, the Red Cross representative for Pendleton County, director of the Pendleton County Easter Seal Society, charter member and treasurer of the Franklin Lion’s Club, served on the rationing board during World War II, member of the Committee on Aging, and on the Pendleton County Library board. He even found time to play golf once in a while!
He succumbed from an apparent heart attack on Oct. 27, 1987, with a funeral following at Faith Lutheran Church prior to being buried beside his wife at St. Paul Cemetery. Those fortunate enough to have known Rev. Siegfried “Siki” Kulman are forever blessed with many memories to treasure.
Life’s little instructions include the following:
- Be a good sport during games and activities.
- Offer to read a book to a child.
- Don’t buy what one can’t afford.
- Always ask. They can only say no.
- There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.
The weather seems to be having its “ups and downs.” Rain has fallen dangerously close to the freezing temperatures. Last week’s snows resulted in the school-aged children being off another day. Indeed, this is an old winter from ages ago….one that hasn’t been in the area for many years. The moisture is well received with hopes that the underground water is nourished again.
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“There are two rules in life: number one, never quit! Number two, never forget number one.” — Duke Ellington
“All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” — Charles Schulz
“The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” — Mark Twain
“Grief is the price we pay for love” — Queen Elizabeth
“Life is like riding a bicycle” — Albert Einstein
Life is so much better sitting by the fireplace to hear the “Talk of The Grove.”
Basketball games have been giving entertainment to attendees.
Sorry to hear that Marvin Hartman is residing at Pendleton Manor, whilst his wife, Betty Gail is at home. Their daughter, Krista Simmons, has taken on a new career…Park Lane Jewelry Official…in order to be flexible with her parents’ care.
Willard Rader is at the Virginia Mennonite Home in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he is having therapy.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers for the week are as follows:
- The rumbling of stomach is actually called a wamble.
- For every human in the world, there are one million ants.
- A honey bee has two stomachs: one for honey, and one for food.
- Horses and cows sleep while standing up.
- Twenty-five states carry Native American names.
The remainder of February’s birthdays include Randy Roberson, 17th; Allen Wilfong, 18th; George Hevener and Kent Simmons, 19th; Diana Smith Cook, 20th; Debbie Reedy, 21st; Carolyn Sponaugle and Karen Simon, 25th; Terry Ryan, 26th; Phil Downs and Patty Marshall, 27th; and Clinton Eye, 28th.
Concerns are for Bob Adamson, Dyer Anderson, Bill Arrington, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, Allen Beachler, Liz and Mick Bodkin, “Bo” Boggs, Patty Chapman, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Phil Downs, Isaac Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Donald Hedrick, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, George Hevener, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Tom and Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Pastor Angela Lambert, Melissa Lambert, O’Dell Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marie, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Angie Nelson, Cornelia Nelson family, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Terri Parker, Alma Pennington family, Diane Pennybaker, Wilma Pitsenbarger Rexrode, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Marilyn Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Willard Rader, Brandon Reel, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Natalie Stephenson, Nelson Simmons, Tonya Simon, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Ed and Carolyn Smith, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Gary, Carol, and Jon Swecker, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Estelle Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer, and individuals and families who continue to be affected and displaced by the fires in California, the flood victims in the south, and the plane disasters.
Cutline:
Rev. Siegfried “Siki” Kullman (Aug. 15, 1906 – Oct. 27, 1987) and Mamie F. White Kullman (Dec. 5, 1899 – March 6, 1982) were married Sept. 26, 1939.