Arthur A. Kuehmichel

Art Kuehmichel was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin on July 19, 1922 to Charles and Lena (Bailey) Kuehmichel. Art was the ninth of their thirteen children. A member of this nation’s Greatest Generation, Art is a WWII vet, having joined the Army in 1942. He served under General Patton in the 94th Division, 3rd Army, 376 Regiment, 2nd Battalion, HQ Company, and, as an S2 Driver, drove the officers hither and yon including Northern France, the German Rhineland, the Ardennes in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, and Luxembourg. He distinguished himself in, battle earning a Bronze Star.

Art married Berniece L. Buse from Spencer on Nov. 20, 1943 while home on leave. After the war, he worked as a welder at Felker Brothers in Marshfield for almost 30 years and advanced to shop foreman before moving to Oregon, where he and Berniece had vacationed over the years. Since both he and she had family in Oregon and Washington, and skilled welding jobs were abundant, they decided to relocate to the West Coast in 1974. Art worked at Atlas Iron Works in Portland until his retirement in 1984. During the years he lived in Spencer, he was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and served as Sunday School Superintendent and was a member of the church council. Once established in Portland, he and Berniece joined Ascension Lutheran where they remained faithful members until the end.

His retirement activities included: volunteering at Ascension’s pre-school, unlocking and opening the facility early in the morning and constructing a life-sized play car/bus with steering wheel for the kids to play on; doing yard work at home and for others; playing cards; and picking berries. He loved chocolate and ice cream. He was a wonderful dancer and, together with his wife, won a few contests in his/their youth.

Art was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Berniece (Buse) in 2005, and ten of his thirteen siblings. He is survived by sisters Doris Sutor of Madison, WI and Esther Brookhouser of Milwaukee, WI; his son Bruce Kuehmichel (MN); and his daughter Brenda Michel (OR). Art has three grandchildren: Aaron Kuehmichel (WI), Leah Rose Geary (CA), and Mercedes Michel (OR).

Arrangements, through Bateman Carroll Funeral Home in Gresham, Oregon, include two services. On Friday, January 8th at 10 am, a graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Cemetery & Mausoleum, 400 SW Walters Rd. Gresham, OR 97080. Art’s remains will be interred next to his wife’s. The second service will be Friday, January 15th at 9:45 am at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Portland, OR 97086, where Art will receive full military honors. Special thanks and appreciation to all those who cared for Art through the years and loved him for his ornery humor.