Obituary of KATHRYN LOUISE KUEHNEL

KATHRYN LOUISE (MONTGOMERY) KUEHNEL, 93, passed peacefully on September 27, 2016. She had a strong will to live, and a deep love of God, family, and friends. She looked at each day as a new beginning. Kathryn was born in Chester, Pennsylvania on November 8, 1922, to the late John Cunningham and Marguerite James (Loughead) Montgomery. She grew up in Elizabeth, Asbury Park and Ocean City, New Jersey until she was 12 years old. She loved spending her summers at the Jersey and Maryland shores. She subsequently moved to Detroit due to her father's job transfer. Kathryn graduated in 1941 from Southeastern High School in Detroit and attended Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan where she played basketball. After college, she worked for Briggs Manufacturing Company and National Automotive Parts Association in Detroit. Kathryn was introduced to her husband, Walter J. Kuehnel, on March 1, 1947, while on a train trip for a bowling tournament with members of American Turners, a German-American athletic club. They were engaged on March 21, 1947 and married on June 21, 1947. Walter passed away on May 14, 1988, after 41 years of marriage. Kathryn had a heart of gold and cared for her family, friends and her church community. She was a member of the Grosse Pointe Woods Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years and loved Bible study classes and volunteering at the Annual Rummage Sale. In the last few years, she also attended services at Living Hope Evangelical Church. Over the years, she enjoyed many vacations with family in New Jersey. After learning to drive in her 60s, she loved driving her friends around to appointments and social events. She was a member of the Association for Mental Retardation and supported the American Diabetes Association. Kathryn's love of animals helped foster a love and respect of animals in her children. She loved bowling and watching her favorite baseball team, the Tigers. She leaves behind to cherish her memories, daughters and sons-in-law, Susan Louise and Patrick Waters of Dexter, MI, and Nancy Jean and J. Darryl Ingram of Bridgewater, NJ; cherished granddaughter, Kathryn Louise Sanderson and Joseph Longo, and adorable great-granddaughter, Amelea Kathryn Longo. She is pre-deceased by her brother, John C. Montgomery, and her beloved son, Arthur J. Kuehnel. A Memorial Service will be held on October 8, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the Grosse Pointe Woods Presbyterian Church at 19950 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan. Memorial donations may be made to Angela's Hospice, Livonia, Michigan.