LARRY KUHN

LAMAR- Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Daniel Funeral Home for Larry Kuhn, 79, Lamar, who died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at his home. Rev. Don Keithly will officiate.

Contributions are suggested to Barton County Library or Barton County Human Society, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.danielfuneralhome.net.

Survivors include his wife of nearly 56 years, Mary; two sisters-in-law, Betty Kuhn and Mary P. Kuhn; several nieces and nephews, Kim Kuhn, Richmond, Va., Michelle Dowell Kuhn, Lamar, Christian Dowell Alberty and husband Paul, Olathe, Kan., Mark Dowell Kuhn and wife Hazel and son Harrison Dowell Kuhn, Enterprise, Ala., Jacob Kuhn and wife Annette, Lamar, Amy Kuhn, Carthage, Sherie Smith and husband Mike, Bill Ainsworth and wife Shelly and Jim Ainsworth and wife Mittie, all of Bokoshe, Okla., and a host of great nieces and nephews whom he loved.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Roger, Dan and an infant brother and his grandparents, Albert and Sarah Kuhn and Amy Dowell.

Mr. Kuhn was born May 23, 1938, in Lamar, to Lloyd William and Katherine Aurora (Dowell) Kuhn. After graduating Lamar High School in 1956, he moved to Springfield and attended Drury College and SMSU, where he graduated with two master’s degrees in psychology and sociology. He married the love of his life, Mary Fesperman, on June 2, 1962, in Bokoshe, Okla.

He had worked at St. John’s Hospital Psych Ward during college and then for the federal government and Springfield Housing Authority. In 1975, he and his wife moved back to the family’s Century Farm, started in 1902. The farm is where his heart was, where he was reared with a strong work ethic and learned pride in family. He and his two brothers lived together with their families on the farm, where they worked together in harmony to raise crops and cattle and tend to the Kuhn Orchards.

In addition to his responsibilities on the family farm, he held a membership in the Metro Club and Lamar United Methodist Church, where he sang in the church choir during his youth. He served his country in the Missouri National Guard for nine years. As a member of Missouri Second Missouri Calvary Re-enactors, he enjoyed riding his horse Whizzer in many events, as well as speaking to schools about the Civil War. He and his wife taught ball room dancing to many young people through the Arts Council, as well as adults in the evening. He also served on several boards including Board of Directors for Ozark Mental Health Council, Barton County Health Department, Farm Service Agency and Barton County Electric.