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.
