Carl E. Kuehl

Carl “Cully” Kuehl, of Kewaunee, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at the age of 96.

Carl was born on March 14, 1927, in Kewaunee, Wisconsin to the late Carl, Sr. and Sylvia (Teske) Kuehl. He was a natural-born athlete and sportsman, competing and excelling in baseball, football, tennis, golf, hunting, fishing, and even boxing. But his true love in life was being on the basketball court. Here he earned many accolades and provided much entertainment for the students and fans of Kewaunee and continued playing well into his sixties.

After graduating high school in 1945, Carl briefly attended St. Norbert’s College before enlisting in the Army and serving stateside. He married his sweetheart Elaine (Kreisa) on July 16, 1949, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Two Rivers. Together they had three children, Scott, Jeffrey, and Laurie. Carl eventually took over his family’s business, Kuehl Oil Company, and retired from the delivery route in 1988.

Cully and Elaine stayed active well into their golden years with daily swims in Lake Michigan and Krohn’s Lake, cross-country road trips, and visits to the casino. Up until his final days, Carl took great pleasure in watching or just talking about sports. He specifically loved sharing stories of his youth, speaking fondly of many former teammates and rivals alike. His inexhaustible memory allowed him to recall names, stats, and box scores from days gone by. He also loved watching Westerns, chatting with friends and neighbors, visiting the Kewaunee Fitness Center, taking leisurely drives around the county, and eating Kroll’s hamburgers.

Carl was preceded in death by his wife Elaine, his son Jeffrey Kuehl, and his daughter Laurie Kuehl. He is survived by his son Scott Kuehl; daughter-in-law Renee Kuehl; grandchildren Shannon Kuehl (Tracy), Rachel Kuehl (Tom Balsley), Megan Kuehl (Elliott Magers), and Valerie Kuehl; and great-grandchildren Molly & Sam Kuehl and Maddie Balsley. He is also survived by nieces and nephews.

The Kuehl family would like to thank the many friends and neighbors who visited and supported Carl, enabling him to live independently for most of his 96 years. A very special thank you to the dedicated teams at Silver Leaf Manor and Unity Hospice for their compassionate care during Carl’s end-of-life journey. And an extra thank you to granddaughter Megan for stepping in as Carl’s “right hand man” for the past two years.