John died Monday, January 17th, at the age of 84, of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Born in St. Louis and raised on the prairies of Illinois, he spent most of his adult life—except for six years—in Utah while longing for the trees of his youth. Awarded a B.S. in Ed. from Eastern Illinois University in 1959 and an M.A. from BYU in 1969, he studied for a Ph.D. at Indiana University 1972- 1978. During a 34-year career in education, his favorite experiences were teaching a large multi-age group (4th, 5th, and 6th grades) in a team of four at East Midvale Elementary 1967-1968, and teaching German I and II at Union Middle School 1983- 1998. Of German ancestry, he visited his ancestral homeland three times between 2006 and 2008. He published a volume of family history, A Search for Identity, in 2014.
As a convert, he was sealed to Annette Thompson from Lewiston, Idaho, in the Salt Lake Temple in February 1964; they met serendipitously on Temple Square in August 1963 and spent 58 years together raising a family of ten children. He enjoyed reading, gardening, doing crossword puzzles, listening to good music, eating good food, and engaging in pleasant conversation.
Preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Arthur C. and Louella (Brand) Kuehn, brother Robert Lee, and son Robert John. Survived by his wife Annette; sister Winona Mae (Gertz), Springfield, MO; sons Todd, Jeremy, Benjamin, Daniel and Thomas; daughters Tara, Nannette, Melinda, and Jennifer; 19 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren.
Private graveside service and interment at Larkin Sunset Gardens.
I had Herr Kuehn for German I and II at Union in 1984 and 1984. I loved his enthusiasm. I have never used the German he taught me, but nearly everyday I quote him at work and to my four sons. I can still sing all of Stille Nacht and O Tannembaum! I remember his son passing away on his mission. Mr. Kuehn was rightfully devasted. My brother was in his class the day they told him he was needed home immediately.
Herr Kuehn was in my top three teachers of all time. I'll be quoting him when I'm 85.
