On Saturday, April 19, 1924 a baby girl, Barbara was born to Bridget and Isadore Bednarek. She grew up on a family farm, south of Berlin in Central Wisconsin and later married Frank Kurczek and now will celebrate becoming Berlin’s latest centenarian as she turns 100 years old today.
Today Barbara Kurczek is celebrating her 100th Birthday. As friends and family have already started to stop by, to recognize her longevity of life, it’s all the good memories that bring her joy and keep a smile on her face.
Accompanied by her sister Julie and daughter Jean on this particular day, it was the laughter and continuous chatter of the trio that had Barbara fondly remembering her life.
She recalled the wonderful seamstress her mother was.
“Mother made everything and we were always very well dressed,” she said, “Mother was also a wonderful cook.”
Barbara attended Springbrook School along with St. Michael’s Catholic School through eighth grade. To get to school, they would often go to the Jones farm, and then get a ride from them.
She was the valedictorian of the 1937 eighth grade class.
“I was always the smart one and not shy,” she said. She attended Green Lake High School, as at the time, her parents thought the school would be much better for her, as a smaller franchise.
She was a cheerleader and also reigned as the Green Lake County Dairy Queen for two years in a row.
“I just recall wanting to win because there was another girl I really didn’t want to win,” she said, “So I guess at the time, it made me really happy.”
She recalled meeting her husband Frank at a dance in Princeton and how he stood out.
“He was in the service and he was in his military uniform,” she said, “He was the only one there in a uniform and he grabbed my eye, you know, so I thought I better grab on to him, and the rest is history!”
The couple was wed at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Berlin on September 2, 1944. They welcomed five children to their family; Frank, known as “Chippie”, John, Jane, Jean Ann and Jim.
Remembering the downtown streets of Berlin, the meat market, with the delicious ring bologna and going to the bakery, Barbara shared that her mother would always remind her to ask, “is the bakery fresh?”
“Berlin had a lot of quality stores, and there were elegant, high end shops, dress stores and a hat maker too,” said Kurczek.
Barbara’s husband Frank worked for the Sears store for 35 years. Along with her daughter, they fondly remembered the excitement they shared going shopping for Easter bonnets, white gloves and all the accessories.
“It was a different time, after a Holy Day mass, it was a big treat to get a sweet roll,” she said.
Reminiscing of the past, the family laughed about a dog, a large St. Bernard the family had and how it looked like a lion.
“He weighed over 135 pounds and when we were going to send him by my brother Tom to Montana, the people at the airport saw him and said they couldn’t ship lions,” she laughed.
She remembered the days of milk delivery and when all food was made from scratch. The first time she made a cake mix from a box, she really didn’t like it, though thought about it, as having five kids, the convenience of using the mixes, might have been a good idea.
Over her lifetime she has witnessed many things and although a lot has changed, she feels like it was gradual and she simply learned to grow with the times. Like anyone, there have been ups and downs in her life, though she believes there have been many more ups. She never wanted to be a person who wanted pity or felt like, “poor me,” as she wanted to enjoy life.
Kurczek is someone who has always had a little spunk in her step. She has enjoyed the fun times with family and friends, traveled around, hosted dinner parties and bridge club and savored being active. Though she stayed home with her family, she did obtain her CNA license and remembered going to Clem’s to celebrate with the other nurses and also remembered her 80th birthday party there, too.
In her life and as time moves on, she has followed this thought, “One day at a time, yesterday is gone, look back for the good memories, yet just keep stepping forward.”
She has learned to accept life for what it is, as well as understand that all people are different.
“You just have to accept them and how things are and move on,” she said.
She’s been thinking about turning 100 over the past couple years and now that the time has arrived, she decided she really didn’t want a big party.
She looks forward to the time with those who stop by for a visit and think of all the memories that have made her life feel like she’s, “living 100 years young!”
Happy 100th Birthday Barbara Kurczek. Thank you sharing your life, your words of wisdom and may you enjoy everyday going forward!
The original article was published in the Berlin Journal Newspaper. If you would like me to write or feature someone you know or have a unique story, please reach out to be featured in my blog.