Obit: Gulcynski, Arnoldine A #2 (1934 - 2007)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Gulcynski, Benzschawel, Lewien, Plehetka, Hirsch

----Sources: Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI.) October 24, 2007

Gulcynski, Arnoldine A (December 17, 1934 - October 22, 2007)

Arnoldine A. Gulcynski, age 72, of Thorp, passed away on Monday, October 22, 2007, at the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen, Wisconsin.

Arnoldine was born to Robert and Veronica Benzschawel of Thorp on December 17, 1934, above Bob’s Tavern in Thorp, which her father owned. It is now known as Cindy’s Bar. She lived in the Thorp area all of her life.

She graduated from Thorp High School and was married to Robert Gulcynski on July 14, 1953, in St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. They were married 54 years. Together they had eight children and owned a dairy farm in the Town of Reseburg for 27 years. After retiring from dairy farming, they purchased and renovated a unique older home in the city of Thorp where they have spent the past 27 years.

Arnoldine was quite a creative and adventurous person. Although she never moved more than five miles from where she was born, she traveled and saw much of the world. She had quite an interest in foreign cultures and brought home many souvenirs, stories and experiences from her travels.

Arnoldine began attending college in her mid-30’s and received a degree in psychology from UW-Stout. When her children were younger, she was a dedicated 4-H leader and also a CCD teacher at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church. She enjoyed cooking and was an excellent seamstress, once making suites for her three little boys for Easter services. She was also very active in the Thorp community, belonging to the Thorp Lioness Club, the Rainbow Homemakers and St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Parish. She was instrumental in the formation of the Thorp Area Historical Society and served as its first president, and also helped revive interest in the Yellowstone Trail which passes through Thorp.

One of her best qualities as a mother was encouraging her children to be adventurous and to further their educations. Arnoldine was very artistic, expressing herself through painting, decorating, landscaping and through her appreciation of antiques, which she enjoyed collecting. She very much enjoyed nature, working in her yard and flower beds, and especially enjoyed the family log cabin, sitting around the campfire sharing her worldly wisdom.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Veronica Benzschawel, and by a daughter, Mary Elizabeth, who died at birth.

She is survived by her husband, Robert, and by their seven children: Mike (Monica) Gulcynski of Stanley, Jim (Cathlyn) Gulcynski of Thorp, Bruce (Rose) Gulcynski of Thorp, Doug (Judy) Gulcynski of Thorp, Dan (Akiko) Gulcynski of Japan, Mary (Dave) Lewien of Ellsworth, and Kathy (Mike) Plehetka of Rice Lake; four brothers: Bob Benzschawel of Thorp, Reinold (Mary) Benzschawel of Boise, ID, Ron (Peggy) Benzschawel of Chicago, and Roger Benzschawel of Boyd; and one sister, Sue (Tom) Hirsch of Chicago. Arnoldine also had 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

She will be deeply missed by her loving and caring husband, Robert, family and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 30, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church in Thorp. Visitation will be on Monday, October 29, 2007, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. Rosary service at the Thorp Funeral Home and again from 9:30 to 10L30 a.m. at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig Catholic Church before the service begins. Inurnment will take place in new St. Hedwig’s Catholic Cemetery at a later date.