Karl Francis Kuckelman,
94, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2019, in San Antonio,
Texas, surrounded by his loving children. Karl was born May 4, 1925,
in Effingham, Kansas, the second of seven children born to John
Francis and Margaret Rose (Sauer) Kuckelman. He attended St. Ann
Catholic school and Atchison County Community High School, both in
Effingham. After graduating high school in 1943, Karl enlisted in
the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed in England during World
War II. He served in the 92nd Bomb Group as a right waist gunner in
the B-17G Flying Fortress. On July 4, 1946, Karl was united in
marriage to Mary Jean Turner; they were blessed with seven children.
Karl was a brakeman for the Union Pacific railroad in Laramie,
Wyoming, and then re-enlisted in the Air Force and served for 27
years; during that time, the family moved 27 times and lived in 11
states and in Japan and Germany. He traveled to many additional
countries while on temporary duty with the Air Force. Many of his
active duty years were spent in Security Service. After retiring
from military service as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1971, Karl
worked for the City of Aurora, Colorado, for 15 years before
retiring permanently from the work force. Karl and Mary moved to San
Antonio, Texas, in 2000.
Karl was devoted to family, outgoing, and
always friendly with strangers. He had a gentle nature, a good sense
of humor, and enjoyed wildlife and growing his prized tomatoes. Karl
had a reputation for being able to build or fix anything, a true
jack-of-all trades. He played softball and served as coach for his
children’s ball teams, was supportive of his children’s and
grandchildren’s endeavors, loved traveling the world, and was always
ready for a road trip. In later years, he was a fan of the Colorado
Rockies and Denver Broncos. He was well-read and was especially
interested in World War II and in new discoveries and developments
in science and technology. Karl was a member of the Greatest
Generation and a true patriot. His lifetime brought him from
horse-and-wagon transportation to cyberspace on his cherished laptop
computer, which he used well into his 90s to stay connected to
family, friends, and the wider world.
Karl was preceded in death by his wife of
70 years Mary Jean (Turner) Kuckelman, one daughter, Lynn M.
Kuckelman, two brothers, Gerald V. Kuckelman and John L. Kuckelman,
and one sister, Helen E. (Kuckelman) Thompson.
Karl is survived by six children: Karl
Kuckelman, Jr. of Broomfield, Colorado; Cynthia Padron (Danny) of
San Antonio, Texas; Stephen Kuckelman of Aurora, Colorado; Kristin
Kuckelman (Neal Morris) of Dolores, Colorado; Mark (Pam) Kuckelman
of Long Beach, California; and Janet (Gary) Sweeney of San Antonio,
Texas. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Andy (Sarah)
Padron of Waxahachie, Texas; Levi Morris of Denver, Colorado; and
Connor Kuckelman of Aurora, Colorado, as well as by two
great-grandchildren, Carrington and Landrey Padron, by three
brothers, Leonard Kuckelman, Donald Kuckelman, and Claire Kuckelman,
and by many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday,
November 21, 2019, at Sunset Funeral Chapel, 1701 Austin Highway,
San Antonio, followed by a funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Burial will
continue at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military
honors.
Donations may be made to St. Jude
Children’s Research Hospital.