Joseph M. Kuehn Jr.

Joseph M. Kuehn, Jr. was called home to our Lord on Aug. 5, 2023 in San Diego, Calif.

Joe, the oldest of 10 children, was born May 24, 1947 to Joseph and Doris (Verage) Kuehn in Rhinelander. Joe graduated from Rhinelander High School in 1965.

During college he joined the Navy, which provided him the opportunity to travel around the world while serving his country. His service took him to San Diego, where he met Anne Hartman in 1969. Joe and Anne were married a few months later and recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary. 

Joe and Anne raised four children — Joseph, Dave, Kate and Robert.

After his discharge from the Navy, Joe started his career with Western Electric and later with AT&T, which took him to New York in 1986. He, Anne and Robert settled in Suffolk County, Long Island. 

In his time there, he served as a volunteer firefighter in the Central Islip Fire Department for over 30 years, was a member of the Knights of Columbus (4th Degree) and was a member of (and served a one-year term as President of) the Holy Name Society at St. John of God Catholic Church.

Joe loved adventure and the outdoors. His hobbies included skydiving, flying lessons, tropical fish aquariums, hunting and travel, particularly traveling to spend time with family. Joe was also an avid fisherman — a passion he shared with and passed on to his sons and grandson — and even built his own custom fishing rods. 

He and Anne took their children on many outdoor adventures and road trips to visit family across the country, especially in Rhinelander.

Joe and Anne continued this trend with their grandchildren Joseph and Sara by exploring various national parks, including a few white-water rafting trips.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Joseph M. Kuehn, Sr. and Doris (Verage) Kuehn, his grandmother Agnes Verage and his uncle Mel Verage, among many other aunts and uncles.

Joe is survived by his wife Anne, his children Joseph (Jen) of Middle Island, N.Y., Dave of Lindenhurst, N.Y., Kate (Rich) Vechinski of San Diego, Calif. and Robert of Hauppauge, N.Y., his grandchildren Joseph and Sara Vechinski of San Diego, his nine siblings: Jeff (Becky) Kuehn of Rhinelander, Tim (Judy) Kuehn of South Range, Tom (Cindy) Kuehn of Rhinelander, Mary (Al) Ewan of Rhinelander, John Kuehn of Tomahawk, Dan (Christy) Kuehn of Austin, Texas, Anne (Dick) Stoll of Cedarville, Mich., Jane Kuehn of Tomahawk, and Barb (Scott) Cirilli of Rhinelander, along with 23 nieces and nephews and many great-nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Sept. 2, 2023 at 11 a.m., with visitation from 10 to 11 a.m., all at the Nativity of our Lord Catholic Church in Rhinelander. 

Father Chris Kemp will be officiating. 

Interment will follow in the Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation. You may leave your private condolences for the Kuehn family at www.cawrlsonfh.com. 

The Carlson Funeral Home (715-369-1414) is serving the Kuehn family.