Karl Francis Kuckelman Jr.

Karl Francis Kuckelman, Jr., 79, passed away surrounded by family on November 5 at Audie Murphy VA Hospital, San Antonio, Texas, after a two-year battle with cancer. His passing was marked with an honor walk and the playing of Taps. Born November 19, 1946, in Laramie, Wyoming, he was the eldest of seven children born to Karl Francis and Mary Jean (Turner) Kuckelman and was the eldest of 33 grandchildren born to John Francis Kuckelman and Margaret Rose (Sauer) Kuckelman of Effingham, Kansas, and of the nine grandchildren of John and Bessie (Bishop) Turner of Monrovia,Kansas.

An Air Force dependent, Karl grew up in numerous locations across the US and overseas. He played on baseball teams in Nebraska, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Japan and played high school basketball in Misawa, Japan. Karl graduated from Johnson High School near Tokyo, Japan in 1964. He served in the US Army with the 23rd Infantry Division (Americal) in Vietnam. He was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in action near Chu Lai and was air-evacuated back to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. He was also awarded a Combat Infantryman Badge, a Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, and a Sharpshooter distinction.

After earning an associate’s degree in HVAC from San Antonio College in Texas, Karl relocated to Colorado and resided there for 54 years. He was employed as an electronic technician at Storage Technology Corporation in Louisville for 30 years. Karl was a hiking enthusiast and frequented trails around his home in Broomfield and in the nearby Rocky Mountains, often with friend Briana. He also enjoyed fishing, both freshwater fishing in the Rockies and surf fishing along the Gulf Coast. An avid sports fan, he followed baseball and football and especially enjoyed college football.

Karl was preceded in death by his parents and by sisters Lynn M. Kuckelman and Cynthia Padron (Danny). He is survived by brothers Stephen Kuckelman of Aurora, Colorado, and Mark Kuckelman (Pam) of Long Beach, California, and by sisters Kristin Kuckelman (Neal Morris) of Dolores, Colorado, and Janet Sweeney (Gary) of San Antonio, Texas, as well as by nephews Andy Padron (Sarah) of Belton, Texas, Levi Morris of Parker, Colorado, and Connor Kuckelman of Aurora, Colorado, grandnieces Carrington, Landrey, and Reese Padron of Belton, Texas, and by many cousins, friends, and neighbors.

Karl was personable, reserved, easygoing, and had a remarkable sense of humor. He was smart, an avid reader, and always kept up with the latest technology. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

A service with military honors will be held at 9:15 am on November 20, 2026, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Shelter #2, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas, and a reception will follow at Sunset Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio.