Thomas J. Kuehn Jr.

Life for Tom began on February 22, 1947, in Bridgeport, CT. His parents were Thomas J. Kuehn, Sr., and Carolyn Nettleton Kuehn, both deceased. He graduated from Norwalk High School and Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, where he met his first wife, Barbara Smith Gosse, and together they had two beautiful daughters.

Tom knew from an early age that one day he would be a pilot. He accomplished this dream in November 1971, in Lubbock, Texas, as a 2nd Lieutenant. His assignments took him to California, Texas, and SAC Headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.

After 6 years in the Air Force, Tom was hired by United Air Lines, only to be temporarily released in late 1980. He then returned to the Air Force where he spent 17 more years on active duty, then several years in the Air Force National Guard in Illinois. His unit was called up for active duty in December of 1990 to participate in Desert Storm.

Tom returned to United Airlines in 1987 and retired as a Captain in 2007. He moved to Florida where he met the love of his life, Julie MacMahon. They spent several years together traveling to Italy, taking cruises, and enjoying life. Both were members of Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church and Tom was very proud to be a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus, whose theme is love of county and civic duty.

Tom is survived by Julie, his daughters Deidre Bergner, son-in-law Patrick Bergner, and Jennifer Gutierrez, son-in-law Omar Gutierrez, all of Elk Grove Village, IL, grandchildren Julia and Keira Bergner, and Antonio and Madeline Gutierrez, all of Elk Grove Village. Tom also leaves behind siblings Drew Charito Avery of Freeport, ME, Donna Farrington of CT, and Kristopher P. Kuehn, sister-in-law Marilyn, of North Carolina.

Taking a few words from John Gillespie Magee’s poem High Flight, Tom has now “slipped the surly bonds of Earth and touched the face of God.”

A Memorial Service will take place at a later date.