1934 – Delvin Willis Kuhl – 2018
Delvin Willis Kuhl was born on January 27, 1934 to Charles and Lucy (DeJager) Kuhl in Orange City, Iowa. He lived on several farms in Northwest Iowa from Middleburg to Alton. His family finally settled on a farm north of Slayton, Minnesota. Delvin attended country schools in Iowa through eighth grade. Then he helped his dad on the farm and also his neighbors. He would often drive by someone’s home and say “I helped them with this when I was a child”. He was drafted into the Army in 1956 and was very proud to have plowed snow in Washington D.C. for the Pentagon. After the service he returned to Slayton and worked for Rupp Construction. He would often tell us as we were driving down a road that he had helped build the road. His friends set him up on a blind date where he met Clare Ann Jacobsma. They were married on May 25, 1961. They settled on a farm five miles north of Hadley, Minnesota and raised five children: Curtis, LuAnn, Julie, Ruth and Nora. They were members of the First Reformed Church in Slayton where he served as an Deacon. Delvin spent time with his children doing chores on the farm. He milked cows until 1981 and also sold McNess Feed and products. Delvin and Clare moved into Slayton in 1990. Delvin’s favorite past times were reading the Peach, going to auctions and looking at cars. Most of all he loved getting a “good deal”. Delvin would get the biggest smile on his face whenever he talked about his grandkids. They were the biggest joy of his life. He also enjoyed playing with his grand pets Bebe, Frankie and George Clooney. Delvin passed away on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Surviving are his wife Clare, Slayton, MN; children: Curtis and friend Shari Solma, Slayton,MN, LuAnn and Don Berkhof, Sioux Falls, SD, Julie Kuhl, Charlottesville, VA, Ruth and Mark Bonnstetter, Slayton, MN, Nora and Chris Dahlhoff, Hadley, MN; five grandchildren: Nick and Kelly Dahlhoff, Anna and Alex Bonnstetter and Andrew Kuhl; brothers: Lou and Kathy Kuhl Worthington, MN, Pete and Carol Kuhl, Ontario, CA, and brother-in-law Curt Colson, Westminster, CO. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Mary Colson.
Memorial Service was held on Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the First Reformed Church in Slayton, MN. Rev. Aaron Punt officiated. Viola Hoekman was the organist and Starla Anderson was the soloist. Pallbearers were Nick Dahlhoff, Kelly Dahlhoff, Anna Bonnstetter, Alex Bonnstetter, Andrew Kuhl, Charles Kuhl and Jeff Kuhl. Military honors accorded by the Slayton American Legion Post #64. Interment in Slayton Memorial Gardens followed the service.
