Howard E. Kuhlman

If you had the opportunity to know Howard Kuhlman you soon realized you had met a man who believed in hard work and family.

Howard E. Kuhlman was born on September 27, 1921, in Cambridge, Nebraska.  His parents, Wilbur Douglas and Alice Bailey Kuhlman, welcomed their only son to their family, raising him with three sisters and like so many children that experienced the depression he appreciated everything he had.

Howard answered his country’s call during World War II as a Boatswain's Mate Second Class in the US Navy, serving from January 13, 1942 until receiving his honorable discharge on January 20, 1947.

It was while serving in the Navy, Howard met his first wife, Gladys Margaret Wabo and they married on December 12, 1945, in New York City.  To this union four children were born, Pam, Kirk, Nancy and Lisa.

Howard and Gladys moved to the Kansas City area, where Howard was employed with Vendo/Vendguard in Kansas City.  For the next 16 ½ years they raised their family together until Gladys’ untimely death on June 15, 1962.

It was while working at Vendo, Howard met a fellow employee named Betty Jane Shipley-Turner, who was a single mother raising her three sons, Mike, Glenn and Keith.  It wasn’t long before Howard and Betty decided to combine their families and on October 24, 1964, in Nowato, Oklahoma the two families became one.  Within a few more years Howard and Betty welcomed Ralph to their family of seven children and the family was complete.  Howard worked for several more years before retiring from Sewell Plastics in Kansas City.

Howard and Betty decided to move from Kansas City to their little piece of heaven located south of Stover; where Howard enjoyed gardening and the great outdoors.  With such a large family he didn’t have much time for hobbies but he enjoyed the time he could spend with Betty.  It was on July 24, 1999 that his beloved Betty passed away.  Howard remained at the home they had built and his days were full of visiting with neighbors and looking forward to seeing his kids and grandkids.

On Monday afternoon, December 28, 2020, Howard passed away peacefully at his home at the wonderful age of 99 years, three months and one day.

Howard is survived by six children, Pam Rose of Stewartsville, Missouri; Kirk Kuhlman of Ardmore, Oklahoma; Nancy Slankard and husband Steve of Casa Grande, Arizona; Mike Turner and wife Carlis of Bonner Springs, Kansas; Lisa Rose and husband Steve of Blythe, California and Ralph Kuhlman and wife Wendy of Shawnee, Kansas; one sister, Barbara Lee Johnson of Corder, Missouri; 27 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren and 25 great-great grandchildren, along with nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In addition to Gladys and Betty, he was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, Glenn and Keith Turner and two sisters, Darlene Mae Sheriff and Betty Dee Mohler.

For those wishing to pay their respects, Military honors will be rendered at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 8, at the Scrivner-Morrow Funeral Home in Stover.

In keeping with his wishes, he will be buried next to Betty in the Ard-Menteer Cemetery in a private ceremony.

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