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This website was created to preserve the legacy of Herman “Winks” and Barbara Kettle Gundlach, maintain the history of our community, and to inspire the next generation of activists, feminists, and philanthropists.

From captain of the Houghton High School and Harvard University football teams to a captain of industry, Herman “Winks” Gundlach Jr. was a man of many passions. From 1946 until he retired in 1988, his Gundlach Construction company built many of the major structures in the Upper Peninsula. A humble man, Winks gave credit for many of his accomplishments to others. He revered the tradesmen of the area, and Winks stayed up late looking over his payroll, knowing that these names didn’t just represent employees, but local families.

A housewife, a mother, a Harvard alum, a feminist. These are all labels that could describe Barbara Kettle Gundlach. She was an able, intelligent woman whose competence covered a broad range of interests, including music, art, literature, religion, social ethics, and philosophy. You can read much more about her HERE.

“I first met ‘Winks’ when we moved here in 1985. It was at a Chamber of Commerce fundraiser — ‘Roasting’ Winks Gundlach. I did not know the ‘dignitaries’ doing the ‘roasting’, but they were rough on Winks. When it was Wink’s turn to give the ‘jabs’ back, he was hilarious. Our paths crossed many times after that evening in 1985. Winks and I were both in the Houghton Rotary Club. Every summer, Winks hosted a Rotary Club Picnic at his camp. Back in the old days, we would golf in the morning at Wyandotte Hills, then return to his camp where we would have a softball game, horseshoes, shuffle board, and skeet shooting. In the evening after the barbecue, we would play cards until the wee hours of the morning.

“Winks had many wonderful attributes. He was friends with everybody, no matter what your ‘ranking’ on the ‘social scale’ was. What really made him a hero to me was his philanthropic nature–everything from establishing the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home to establishing a book club for children.

“Winks would always greet everybody with a smile. He made a person feel like he or she was a lifelong friend. Winks’ legacy will long be remembered.”

Tom Cole, Houghton Rotarian

“He was probably the most patient, understanding, and honest person I have ever known. I remember his words on the way to a new project. He said, ‘I want you to be superintendent on this job, do a good job, give the owner everything the plans and specs call for.’ It impressed me an awful lot because what more could you ask for? He was the most honest man I could imagine working for. He was honest to his employees. He was honest to his patrons.”

Paul Frair, former V.P. of Herman Gundlach Inc. and lifelong friend