WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Vern Aladine “Al” Kuhlman, age 81, passed away peacefully surrounded by family Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo after a sudden illness.
He was born on Oct. 15, 1929, one of two children of Vern and Mildred (Wagoner) Kuhlman-Eberhard.
On Nov. 18, 1950, he married Dorothy Jean Keeslar and has enjoyed 60 years of marriage with her. Throughout the 60 years of marriage, their love for each other and their family was inseparable.
Al was involved in construction all of his life working for Edgar Bowen and Max Harker in Sturgis. He later went to work for construction companies in the Kalamazoo area, and then returned home to own and operate Al Kuhlman Builder until his retirement in 1994.
He was a member of the Sturgis Elks Club and the Sturgis Jaycees, where he looked forward every year to making costumes for the Michigan Week parade and Halloween parties. He enjoyed camping with his family and friends and enjoyed fishing. He enjoyed working in his workshop making furniture items for his home, his family and friends.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Sturgis, where he served on several committees and boards. He also served on the City of Sturgis Zoning Board of Appeals for many years.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; a daughter, Kandis Bradley of Parchment; a son, Douglas (Theresa) Kuhlman of Constantine; four grandchildren, Jami (Todd) VanderMeer of Parchment and Justin (Corinne) Bradley of Kalamazoo, and Katelyn and Bradley Kuhlman of Constantine; four great-grandchildren, Jared Bradley, Jordyn VanderMeer and Jakob VanderMeer of Parchment and Claire Bradley of Kalamazoo; and a sister, Joy Messer of Sturgis.
Family and friends will be received from 5-8 p.m. today at the Hackman Family Funeral Home at the corner of Chicago Road and Lakeview Avenue in Sturgis.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis, with the Rev. Michael Wicks officiating. Burial will take place at the Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.
If desired, the family would ask that memorial contributions be directed to the No One Dies Alone program, Borgess Palliative Care Unit 1521 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49048. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
