Melvin Kuehnhold

Melvin Herman Jurgen Kuehnhold was born October 10, 1930, the son of Adolph and Ella Jepsen Kuehnhold. He died Thursday, March 10, 2011, at his home in Denison, Iowa, at the age of eighty.
Melvin was born in Charter Oak, Iowa. He received his education in Hanover #4 and Schleswig Community Schools until the 9th grade. He joined the Navy in November 1950, serving aboard the USS President Jackson and the USS General Mann, until his honorable discharge in November1955. He finished his high school education in 1955 at McKinley Continuation High School in Berkeley, California, completing three years worth of high school in only 13 months. Melvin obtained his Associates degree in Accounting from Cabrillo College in Aptos, California, in 1960. He later earned his Bachelors degree from Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa, in 1979, while working full-time at the Iowa School for the Deaf (ISD) in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
On March 31, 1972, he was united in marriage to Mary Carey in Carson City, Nevada. The couple enjoyed camping in California and Iowa, and trips to Mazatlan, Mexico, and Teton Village, Wyoming.
His adventurous spirit included various handyman and accounting office jobs in California with his longest employment being Business Manager at ISD for over 13 years. Amongst his busy schedule of work and college, he also found time to obtain a pilots license. He retired from ISD in 1988. After a short-lived retirement, he then went to work as the Utilities Warehouse Purchasing Agent for the City of Fremont in Fremont, Nebraska, for five years, taking advantage of an offer of early retirement. His other work included driving school bus, semi, and charter bus for various companies. His latest adventures took him to auctions and he became "hooked" on them.
Melvin was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary in January 2011; one daughter, Deanna; one son, Daniel; two brothers: Wayne and Don. He is survived by one son, Rev. Paul and his wife, Louisa, of Roselle; one daughter, Druecilla Lamphear; seven grandchildren: Kara, Jason, Christi, Alaina, Briana, Tina, and Robert; four great-grandchildren: Jeffrey, Kenlynn; Kenyon, and Keira; one brother, Vernon and his wife, Donna Mae; one sister, Betty; two sisters-in-law: JoAnn and Gloria; other relatives and friends.

Memorial services were held at 11 A.M., Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the United Presbyterian Church in Denison, Iowa. Rev. Ken Fells officiated the service and graveside rites held at Morgan Cemetery in Schleswig, Iowa. Marilynn Jepsen provided organ accompaniment. Serving as honorary pallbearers were Kenlynn Greenlaw, Briana Lamphear, Alaina Lamphear, Robert Greenlaw, Jason Schooling, Kenyon Mason, Jeffery Smith, Keira Mason, Christi Coats, Tina Mason, and Kara Niles. Pallbearers and military honors werethe American Legion Post #8 of Denison. The family invited everyone to return to the church for fellowship and lunch served by the Presbyterian Women. The Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements.