William E. Kuehn

William Emil Kuehn was born October 1, 1925 in Franklinton, North Carolina and passed away February 19, 2018 in Lafayette, CO. William was born to Edna (Spencer) and Emil Gustave Kuehn. He was the oldest of six children born of this union. At an early age he and his parents moved to East St. Louis, Illinois where he was raised.He is survived by his wife, Lois Virginia (Sager) Kuehn of 70 years, two daughters and their husbands, Cathy and Todd Silbert, and Marsha Walker and Elston Obermann. He is also survived by four grandchildren and their spouses, Seth Walker, Kelli Walker Bairn and Sam Bairn, Teage Silbert, Caitlin Silbert Pagano and Jim Pagano, and by six great-grandchildren; Maxwell Walker; Norah, Lena, and Arlo Pagano; and Wesley and Lila Bairn, two brothers, Don Kuehn and Gene Kuehn and a sister Marilyn Barr.Two sisters, Anne Campbell and Nancy K pnick predeceased him, as did his son-in-law, Vern Walker.Following graduation from East St. Louis Senior High School he entered the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. His sophomore year at the Academy was spent at sea on a Liberty ship with Moore-McCormack, transporting troops and material to Allied forces in North Africa and southern Europe. Upon graduation from the Academy he received a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve, a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Maritime Service and a license as a Third Mate deck officer. After graduation he did a stint on a tanker owned by Keystone Shipping Company. After his tanker experience, he sailed again on a tanker and Victory ship with Moore-McCormack on the east coast of the United States and made several trips to South America. Upon coming ashore, he met and married the love of his life, Lois Virginia Sager.After returning from his sea career he enrolled at St. Louis University School of Commerce and Finance from which he graduated, and subsequently became a Certified Public Accountant. He practiced public accounting with offices in St. Louis, Missouri; Kansas City, Kansas; and Denver, Colorado until he retired.During his career he served as Secretary Treasurer of the Midwest Marine Association, Vice-President of the Sales and Marketing Executives of Metropolitan St. Louis, and President of People to People International of Metropolitan St. Louis.William's gardens were amazing sights, both in St. Louis and in Longmont, Colorado where he and Lois settled in 1998. Once in Longmont, he proudly completed training to become a volunteer Master Gardener with the Colorado Master Gardener Program. William loved to travel, having visited over 130 countries. He went around the world twice and has been on more cruises than even he could remember.A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Cremation entrusted to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to a fund for Arlo Pagano, in care of Ahlberg Funeral Chapel; ahlbergfuneralchapel.com. Arlo is one of William's great-grandsons, Arlo was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth two years ago. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com.