MEMORIES OF MISS SOPHELIA KURKOWSKI

FROM THE CLASS OF 1953

Submitted by Barbara Laursen

November 2003

 

Ms. K:  She was one inspiration for my becoming a teacher. Ma Gerling was the other.  Ms. K always treated us as adults, not teenagers … awesome, I thought.  She was constantly chatting, telling stories, relating tidbits of history.  As I look back, she was one of the master teachers in the profession, truly dedicated.                                                                                           From Patricia Terhune

 

My thoughts about Miss K, are, I liked her very much, and loved being a page in the Library, which made me feel really special.  History wasn’t my favorite class, and I think she knew it.  Also whenever I needed a few cents for essentials, and you girls will know what I mean, she lent me the money and I always paid her back!!                                                                                             From Joyce Danielson Hanson

 

Regarding Miss K:  Her nickname for me was “The Convertible Kid” – my car was a ’48 Buick convertible. I remember her asking, “When do I get a ride in that car?”      From Tim Schroeder

 

Miss Kurkowski is a legend at Waupaca High School.  She was loved by both the faculty and her students.  Her passion for teaching and her library was extraordinary, and was readily available to assist us teachers at anytime and anyway.                                                     From Ward L. Fox

 

I can remember when Miss K was putting on a pageant for the Centennial (?) and Verlea (Toots) Holman, Lenna, I think Dave, Paul, myself and some others were in it.  We were standing on at least two rows and Verlea (who was supposed to be an Indian Maiden) said “Either I will have to get in the front row or I will need wedgies for my Moccasins.  I really am vague on the rest.            From Nancy Peterson Holman

 

One fine day in March Miss Kurkowski was giving a quiz and asked us “What important event happened on this date?”  I answered, “My birthday”.  When she looked at the answers she asked me if it really was my birthday and I told her yes.  She came over to me and said “This is the best I can do on such short notice” and handed me a brand new #2 yellow pencil.  It wasn’t much but I’ll never forget her caring kindness and I have always remembered her fondly.                          From Roger Cate

 

Miss Kurkowski, my memories of her are very pleasant.  I think she helped instill in me, my interest in American history, especially the Civil War era, the history of the West, etc.  I still have a term paper I wrote for her class and whenever I hear the name of the subject of my paper I think of her class.

                                                                                                            From Betty Hanson Johannes

 

Who could ever forget our memorable Miss “K”.  I remember standing by the window on the landing and watching her walk up the sidewalk, into school  She had her own special walk that was unforgettable.  She was a woman, who gave respect, and in return, we all gave her respect.  She had a way of making history come alive and it made you feel like you were in the middle of the Civil War.  She instilled in me, the love of history, which has carried over to this very day.  I was one of her Pages, (working in the library), and remember the pride that I felt, when I was promoted to a Cadet.  I had won her approval.  Remember her love for all the dolls that she collected from previous students, who traveled all over the country?  Do you all remember when we all sent money to her, so that she could take a trip to foreign countries?  I felt privileged to be a part of returning to her what she graciously gave to us.  A LOVE FOR LIFE, AND ADVENTURE.                                                                 From Lorelei Smith Anthony

 

Miss K got me interested in history and am still awed by anything of the past.  She also had us look up a new word every day and I love to read anything and everything and still find myself looking for new words.  She was a wonderful teacher and model.                                                From Redine Peterson Barry

 

This story is about a fond memory and a funny incident that happened with Miss Kurkowski.

I don’t recall exactly why we were at school that particular evening, but because I lived in the country, I had the family car.  I asked Miss Kurkowski if she wanted a ride home as it was quite late.  After she got into the car, we decided that we should go to Simpson’s Restaurant for something to eat.

As I was driving down Main Street, there wasn’t any parking spot open near the restaurant. I went around the block a couple of times and the only open space was right in front of the Rosa Theatre.  I knew it was a no-parking area, but the lights were off and the theatre was dark.  As we approached the area again, she said, let’s park here, its okay, the movie is out.  We went into the restaurant and when we came out, I had a parking ticket on my windshield!  I was so embarrassed.  As a teenager, getting your first ticket with your teacher present was very humiliating, to say the least.

She saw the police officer walking slowly down the street.  She called out to the officer and he turned around and came back.  I could hear her ask him, how could he give me a ticket when I was doing her a favor by giving her a ride home?  She argued that it was very late and the movie was over, so why did it matter if I parked in front of the theatre?  All the while this was going on, I am staring at the ticket on the windshield and thinking to myself, I’ll never get to take the car again.  When she finished talking to him, he came over and took the ticket off the windshield and walked on.  She got into the car and said that the officer was one of her former students. She told him that it was her fault that I parked there because she told me to.  She said she looked him straight in the eye and told him he had better tear that ticket up – which he did!

Since that little incident happened fifty years ago, whenever I get back to Waupaca and I drive down Main Street and see the empty parking area in front of the Rosa Theatre, it brings back a warm and wonderful memory of a funny, sweet lady.  Miss Kurkowski was a great teacher!  She also loved to travel, and she always commented on what a beautiful state we lived in.  She always said we should see our own state first. She made her classes interesting.  Her whole life was her students and she loved them all – even that police officer!                                                                               From Marilyn Ware Purchatzke