Rev. Robert Theodore Kuhlmann

Robert was born to the Reverend Dr. G.A. and Dorothy (nee Meyer) Kuhlmann on March 3, 1932, in Winfield, KS., where he was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Bob was led to pastoral ministry, beginning at St. John’s College in Winfield, and completing his studies at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, graduating with a Master of Divinity in 1957. His vicarage year was served at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, in Fresno, California. He was ordained into the Holy Ministry in Fairborn, OH where he was the first Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. While serving in Fairborn, he met Eloise Stigge, who was in her first year as a Called Lutheran School teacher. They married in July of 1968.

In 1969, Pastor Kuhlmann accepted the Call to organize a congregation in northwest San Antonio, Texas that would become Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. While serving in San Antonio, Pastor Kuhlmann completed his Master of Sacred Theology from Hamma School of Theology/Wittenburg University, Springfield OH in 1973 and began Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in counseling. In 1977, the family moved to Amarillo, Texas where Pastor Kuhlmann accepted a Call to Christ Lutheran Church. Over the years, he served as a Circuit Counselor in north San Antonio and the Texas Panhandle and was active in the community volunteering as a chaplain at Northwest Texas Hospital’s trauma center. After 37 years, Pastor Kuhlmann retired from full time parish ministry in 1994. Starting in 2000, he began serving as a chaplain at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Amarillo. He also served as interim pastor for various congregations in the Panhandle including Grace Lutheran, Dalhart, Immanuel Lutheran, Hereford, and Trinity Lutheran, Borger. He retired from hospital chaplaincy at the VA Medical Center in 2012. In 2014, Bob and Eloise moved to the Rockwall area where they became members of Our Savior Lutheran Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Marjorie Theimer and Ruth Ohm, his brother, David Kuhlmann, and his sister-in-law, Margaret Stigge. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Eloise; two sons, James and wife Amy of Dallas, TX and Joel and wife Allison of Fulshear, TX; 4 grandchildren, listed in order of birth: (Elizabeth) Kaley Kuhlmann Barnicoat and husband, Andrew, Sarah Kuhlmann, John Kuhlmann and Lauren Kuhlmann; sister-in-law Ruanne Kuhlmann of Houston, TX, brother-in-law Waldon Stigge and wife Cathy of Omaha, NE, brother-in-law Alvin Stigge and wife Cindy of Omaha, NE, and step-sister Mary Jean Farley of Littleton, CO, along with many loving nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be on Saturday, October 29, from 9:30-10:30 am at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 3003 Horizon Road, Rockwall, Texas 75032. The funeral will follow at 10:30 am on October 29, at Our Savior Lutheran Church. A graveside service will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Park, Rockwall, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Music Ministry at Zion Lutheran Church in Dallas, and the Lutheran Hour Ministries.

https://ziondallas.churchcenter.com/giving

https://www.lhm.org/give/forms/formgeneral.asp

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20