Patrick Walter Gulden

Patrick W. Gulden, 76, died of heart complications in Olympia on April 8, 2015. He was born to Bernard and Agatha Gulden in New Ulm, MN, and he was the third youngest of eleven children. He grew up on a farm near Searles, MN and his family predominately spoke German.

Pat graduated in 1956 from Holy Trinity High School, New Ulm, MN. He served in the U. S. Army for three years. Using the G.I. Bill, he graduated from Mankato State University, Mankato, MN.

On July 21, 1962 he married Mary Lou Grams of St. Clair, MN. He taught industrial arts at St. Ansgar School District, St. Ansgar, IA. In 1965, they moved to Faribault, MN where he taught a number of subjects at Bethany Academy.

Later, in 1967, they moved to Apple Valley, MN and he began programming computers at Control Data Corporation after learning of the field at a job fair. In 1970, he worked with computers in the same capacity at Hamm’s Brewing Company, St. Paul, MN until it was purchased by the Olympia Brewing Company of Tumwater, WA in 1975. After the brewery changed ownership in 1983, he was employed by the WA State Department of Corrections until his retirement in 2003. Pat really enjoyed his work and made many life-long friends.

In his retirement, he volunteered at the Thurston County Court House, Amtrak, Chairman of the Olympia Brewery's Twenty-Year Club, and performed many tasks of service at St. Michael Catholic Church.

His character reflected his upbringing on the farm, his German heritage, his teaching experience, and his faith. He used many colorful expressions in his conversations to entertain, surprise, and reveal his opinions.

He enjoyed golf, travel, bridge, and puzzles. Pat cherished spending time with his family, friends, and grandchildren. He loved hosting, toasting, and cooking for any occasion; people were never strangers for long. Pat had the gift and put forth the extra effort to maintain friendships throughout his lifetime. With his home on Capitol City Golf Course, the golfers looked forward to the 19th hole but Pat was prepared for them from his back deck on the 17th hole.

Pat had boundless energy and a great work ethic. We will miss his big smile, boisterous laugh and joyful presence. His passing leaves a huge void in our lives.

He leaves his wife of 52 years, Mary Lou (Grams); his four children Kurt (Michelle) of Olympia, WA, and Keith (Donna) of Simpsonville, SC; Kari (Jeff) Krausmann of Olympia, WA and Kellie (Kyle) Hauger of Portland, OR; twelve grandchildren, and one great grandchild; Pat’s sister Charlotte Mulvaney, Minneapolis, MN; brothers Bernard (Phyllis), Gibbon, MN; Gary (Sally), Searles, MN; Fred (Joyce), Stanchfield, MN; and sisters-in-law Lorraine Gulden, New Ulm, MN and Marvel Bergervoet, St. Peter, MN; and brother-in-law Leo Hillesheim, New Ulm, MN; and several nieces and nephews. Pat was predeceased by his parents, four sisters, and two brothers.

The funeral will be on Wednesday, April 29 at 12:00 noon at St. Michael Parish in Olympia. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Saint Vincent DePaul Society or the Shoulder-to-Shoulder Ministry c/o St. Michael Parish. For comments go to http://www.millsandmillsfunerals.com.