Obituary

Howard Frederick Kuhn, 86, passed away at CAMC Memorial HospiceCare on March 12, 2025.

Howard was born to Frederick and Julitta (Otto) Kuhn on July 9, 1938, at home in Millerville, MN. Howard was a lifelong learner and educator. He graduated valedictorian from Crosier High School in Onamia, MN. He then spent several years in the Crosier Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. He attended St. Thomas University in St Paul, MN, graduating with a B.A. in English. He did graduate work at the University of Oregon in Eugene, graduating with an M.A., D.A., and Ph.D. in English. He taught several years at Franklin College in Franklin, IN, and then found his academic home at West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery, WV, where the number of first-generation college students gave him the opportunity to change lives for generations. He developed the English as a Second Language program for international students; served as the WVUIT head of the WV Board of Regents program, which grants college credits to adults for their work experience, and served as Chair of the English Department for several years.

He married his wife, Gladys Roers, in 1965 and they were blessed to love each other for 59 years. Together they raised two wonderful sons, Jonathan (who passed away in 2024) and Joel. Their sons and grandchildren, Nathaniel and Clarisa, are the joys of their lives. Howard modeled a love of helping others, a love of education, service, cars, responsibility, and the wonders of Appalachian outdoor living for them.

Howard’s interests included genealogy, reading, landscaping, writing poetry, cars, photography, the outdoors and traveling. He was an intelligent, faithful, loving, kind, unassuming man with a dry sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife, Gladys; son, Joel (Amy); grandchildren, Nathaniel and Clarisa (Brunty); brothers, Leon (Barbara), Kenneth (Mary Ann), and Gregory, and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jonathan Kuhn; his parents, Frederick and Julitta Kuhn; his sister, Mary Jane Koep; sisters-in-law, Carol Kuhn, Judy Wagner and Mary Kuhn; nephew, Teddy Wagner; and great-nephew, Conan Lee Bitzan-Maus.

The family offers heartfelt thanks to Dr. Molly John, Dr. James Griffith, Dr. Mark Lambert, and also to each person who walked with him on his final journey at HospiceCare.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Seven Dolors Church in Millerville, MN.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Howard’s memory be made to HospiceCare, 1606 Kanawha Blvd. W., Charleston, WV 25387.

Condolences may be sent to Howard’s family at www.barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.