Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Franklin Kuehn
Franklin “Frank” Kuehn, 81, of Weston, died Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at Milwaukee V.A. Medical Center.
A life well-lived: Here! Let me show you how to do that….”
He was born May 10th, 1934, the fourth child of seven to Franz Friederich and Gertrude Dehnke in Otter Creek Township, WI on the family farm. He attended country school through the 8th grade, after which he went on to Augusta High School. During his time there he was homecoming king, captain of the football team, president of the FFA, and participated in track, baseball, and basketball—even holding the Wisconsin state high jump record for approximately an hour until it was broken in the same meet! Upon graduation he was offered football scholarships to both the University of Wyoming and Valparaiso, IN, but due to the death of his father he declined in order to support his mother and younger siblings on the family farm. Besides tending to the farm he enjoyed city-league baseball in Augusta and achieved significant success when asked to report for practice with the Bettendorf Bees, an Iowa-based farm team for the Chicago Cubs. Again, he had to decline due to being drafted into the US Army later that year (1954). After basic training in Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and advanced training in Fort Benning, GA, he was stationed in northern Germany where he worked as a radio operator in the Signal Corps. After 22 months of service he was honorably discharged and promptly returned home to marry the love of his life Nathlie (Schroeder) Kuehn, on October 20, 1956.
He first worked at Presto in Chippewa Falls, WI, but then entered into agribusiness where he attained manager status—working in Augusta, Chippewa Falls, Hixton, and Merrill, WI. In the summer of 1970 he embarked on a career of self-employment with Holiday Vacation Cruises in LaCrosse, WI. Following this he would venture in retail sales, the insurance industry, and finally returning to agribusiness in Mondovi, WI. Despite being a traumatic amputee at age 27, he was known for his boundless energy and remarkable work ethic. So much so, his own children are unsure of his exact date of retirement, but they believe it to be sometime in 1998. He and Nathlie then moved to Weston, WI where they enjoyed a life near family; Robert (Susan), Ronald, Randal (Cathe), and Rebecca.
Frank enjoyed life. He continued to follow major league baseball, the Packers, and was a fishing enthusiast. But his greatest joy came from travel with his family. He was famous for taking them on Sunday drives that would often encompass a visit to another state. One wonders if the family trip along the Alaskan Highway to Circle, AK began with the phrase, “Hey kids, get in the car! Let’s go for a ride!” The Kuehn family ventured from coast to coast and back again in the family Buick….Yellowstone and Glacier National Park were favorite memories. After retirement he and Nathlie were often “on the road again,” free to roam without work obligations. As a result, their children were never really certain exactly where Mom and Dad would call from next.
One would be very lucky to meet another soul like Frank. He will be greatly missed by family and friends for his optimism, positive outlook no matter what came his way, and good nature. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nathlie, his brothers; Harvey, Melvin, and Charlie, and daughter-in-law, Carolie. He is survived by three sisters, all four children, and three grandchildren. The world is a better place for having had him in it. Good bye, Frank. We love you.
Visitation will be from noon to 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church in Augusta, WI. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at the church with Pastor Jonathan Wessel officiating. . Burial will be in the West Lawn Cemetery in Augusta. The family is assisted by Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta.
