R. Lee Kuhrt - age 84, of Pocahontas, formerly of Knoke, passed away on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, at the Pocahontas Manor in Pocahontas, Iowa.
Robert Lee Kuhrt was born November 4, 1934, in Knoke, Iowa. He was the son of Arthur and Sena (Siefken) Kuhrt. He attended country school in Butler township through seventh grade. He then moved with his family to Tucson, Arizona until 1951, when the family returned to Iowa. Lee graduated from from Pomeroy High School in 1952 and attended Buena Vista College for a year until he joined the U.S. Army in 1953, stationed at Fort Sill, OK. On January 29, 1955, Lee was united in marriage to Betty Jean "Jeanie" Wells at St. John Lutheran Church in Pomeroy. The couple settled in Knoke in 1956 - where they farmed, fed livestock and raised their family.
Lee was a member of the St. John Lutheran Church where over the years he held many roles including - teaching high school Sunday School, serving on the church board, and singing in the choir. Lee was also active in the Via De Cristo community and in prison ministry with the Church of Damascus Road.
He was a past president of the Calhoun County Pork and Beef Producers and he held board positions on the state and national Cattlemen's Association. Lee also served on the Pomeroy Co-op Board of Directors, was a volunteer with the Knoke Fire Department, and was active in Calhoun County Republican Committee. He enjoyed sports, traveling and especially enjoyed the time spent with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanie of Pocahontas; daughter, Gwen Kuhrt of Chanhassen, MN; son, Keith (Frances) Kuhrt of Pomeroy; daughters, Leslie (Jim) Franzmeier of Newell, Beth (Mark) Bandy of Murfreesboro, TN and Rachel (Jon) Olson of Pomeroy; seven grandchildren, William (Maria) Franzmeier; Ellen (Ben) Schulties; Ann (fiancée, James Fisher) and Megan Bandy; and Abigail, Jacqueline and Benjamin Olson; and one great grandchild, Cecelia Franzmeier.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mildred Maguire, brother, Darold Kuhrt in infancy; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Faye and Wendel Stuart, Roy and Colleen Wells; and Henry and Irene Massop.