Althea Kuhn

Althea M. Kuhn, 89, of Hot Springs Village, AR died November 1, 2009 at a local hospital. Born Althea Margaret Barney on November 8, 1919 in Battle Creek, MI, she was one of eight children. She had an adventurous spirit, attending college at Western Michigan University for a teaching degree, teaching elementary children in Battle Creek, MI, earning a master's degree in outdoor education from New York University, and serving as an exchange teacher in Lahaina, Maui while Hawaii was still a US territory. She meet the love of her life, Edward Lewis Kuhn, and married September 20, 1952, moving to the Chicago area where Ed was a saleman for Union Pump Company and where they raised their four children. Althea was a devoted mother, active in the North Riverside Presbyterian Church and community, and a substitute teacher at Komarek Schools. She and Ed retired to Hot Springs Village in 1983. Here they joined the Kirk of the Pines Presbyterian Church, made new friends, enjoyed traveling while able and spent their final years in Good Samaritan Complex. She especially enjoyed contacts with family, relatives and friends, being involved in the FOCUS low vision group and listening to "talking books" from Arkansas Society for the blind. She loved to talk and loved to listen - a rare combination. There are stories of how she could get someone's life history out of a call from a telemarketer or wrong number! To her relatives, she was known as "Aunt Honey" and was a true matriarch of the family. She was a special lady and will leave a gap in many people's lives. She is remembered as a loving wife and mother, a woman of trusting faith and strength of spirit, and a gracious friend. In her 89 years, she both gave and received a lot of love. She is survived by three of four children; Son Stewart Kuhn and wife Eileen of Hot Springs Village, AR; son Charles Kuhn and wife Leanne of Glenwood Springs, CO; and daughter Linda Kuhn and husband David King of New Lisbon, WI; son-n-law Roger Gercken of Ottawa, IL; five grandchildren; Scott Kuhn and wife Fanny; Debra Johnson and husband Jon; Lindsay, Taylor and Benjamin Kuhn, three step-grandchildren Scott King and wife Patty; Kristin Kirchman and husband Christopher; Ryan King and wife Kristin; four great grandchildren and nine step-great grandchildren; a sister-n-law Thelma Barney of Battle Creek, MI; and many nieces and nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years Edeard Kuhn; a daughter Candace Ann Gercken, and all her brothers and sisters. The family wishes to thank the staff at greenwood assisted living for their loving care for Althea over the many years, the staff at Arkansas Hospice for the last weeks of her life. A memorial service will be held on November 07, 2009 at Good Samaritan's Cedar Lodge Chaple with burial at the Kirk of the Pines Presbyterian Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kirk of the Pines Presbyterian Church at 275 Asturias Drive, Hot Springs Village, AR.

Althea Kuhn

November 8, 1919 - November 1, 2009