Wencel L. Cukerski, superintendent of Grand Rapids public park system, hails from far away Poland, his birth having occurred in the city of Posen, September 14, 1869. His father, Michael Cukerski, a landscape gardener, and his mother, whose maiden name was Caroline Pawloski, were both natives of German Poland and never left that country. Wencel L. Cukerski attended a Catholic parochial school in the country of his nativity until his fifteenth year, and during the two succeeding years received instructions from his father in landscape gardening, for which he early manifested a decided taste and liking. After becoming somewhat familiar with the business he went to Enfurth, Germany, where he further prepared himself by taking a full course in the agricultural college of that city, paying particular attention to landscape gardening and floriculture, which he studied carefully in their every detail. After thus spending two years, acquiring in the meantime a comprehensive knowledge of the profession, he went to Berlin, where, until 1880, he acted in the capacity of assistant to one of the most extensive gardeners of that city. In 1880 he came to the United States, locating at Grand Rapids. He entered the employ of Henry Smith, with whom he remained till 1892, completing in the meantime a course in one of the city’s commercial college, thus thoroughly fitting himself for his subsequent business career. In 1892 Mr. Cukerski was engaged as landscape gardener and florist in the public parks of the city, thirteen in number, a position for which his previous training so well fitted him. In 1897 he was made superintendent of the entire system, and he has since discharged his official duties in a manner highly creditable to himself and satisfactory in every respect to the public. Since taking charge of the park system, Mr. Cukerski has inaugurated many improvements, beautifying these popular resorts and making them conform to his ideas of what such places should be. He brought to this work a highly cultivated mind and artistic taste of a high order, and the work per-formed under his plans and personal supervisor bear eloquent testimony to his skill as a gardener without a peer in this section of the state. To keep the entire system in the condition which he has planned, requires the labor of from sixty to eighty men, all of whom have been selected by reason of their fitness for the places they fill. Mr. Culerski is a gentleman of liberal culture, truly refines, and his long connection with calling which appeals so strongly to the aesthetic, has developed all that is good and commendable in his nature, making his companionship much sought after by those whose minds are influenced by the beautiful. He was married in Grand Rapids, February 6, 1894, to Miss Helen Poposki, a native of this city, whose parents, Andrew and Catherine Poposki, were born in Poland. Mr. and Mrs. Cukerski have one child, Florence, who has attained the age of five years. Mr. Culerski is thoroughly American in his ideas, but still cherishes a warm feeling for the fatherland where his youthful years were passed. He belongs to the Polish-American Industrial society, the Polish National alliance, and with his wife is a member of St. Adalbert’s Polish Catholic church of Grand Rapids. He is also a member and stockholder in the Polish-American Building & Loan association, and is identified with the Odd Fellows and Elks fraternities. He owns a comfortable home at No. 16 Turner street, and other property of value in the city.