Birth date: Dec 5, 1920 Death date: Dec 15, 2016
Bernard E. Kuhn, the last-surviving grandson of Aaron Mendelson, passed on December 15, 2016 at his St. Clair home. He was born December 5, 1920, to Gladys and Bernard E. Kuhn in Detroit. He married Margaret E, Friederichs, on Jan Read Obituary
My cousin, Tim Hinkle, loves to tell about games of tag with Uncle Bernie on the hillside of the big house on North River Road. Despite Tim’s best efforts and running up and down the hillside repeatedly, he simply could not catch Uncle Bernie. Uncle Bern was just too fast and too elusive. Let’s be honest too; the game was played between an adult and a 10 year old, so it was not really a fair match. What sticks with Tim, however, was not the match-up, but the engagement. That an adult thought it important, even fun, to play tag with a young nephew at twilight on a summer’s eve bespoke a different attitude toward children.
Throughout his life, Uncle Bernie developed a multitude of deep and abiding interests that he pursued with passion and inventiveness and, as the game of tag demonstrates, family was one of them. He also adored an old jalopy in which he ferried my mother to and from St. Clair High, relegating her to the rumble seat on the way home so that he could woo Margaret Friederichs in the passenger seat. More generally, he thought the City of St, Clair was just terrific, and being out on it’s river in the summertime even better. And undergirding it all, he had a deep commitment to daily Mass at St. Mary’s.
His great gift lay in combining his pursuits and, on another level, divining opportunities for service in them. His dates with his beloved Margaret developed into a marriage that endured more than 70 years and begat 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. After the war, he parlayed his interest cars from the jalopy into a Chrysler dealership, Kuhn Sales & Service, where the emphasis was more on service that led to a sale. Somewhat embarrassingly for any St. Mary’s student, after a school year, he would take a cruiser full of Dominican nuns from the faculty for an afternoon excursion on the river around Stag Island- they still wearing their habits! Out of his commitment to the City of St. Clair, emerged his service as Harbor Commissioner and, eventually, that as Mayor from 1988-2000.
When someone is so passionate about their interests; they are bound to give rise to problems and tensions and conflicts with others who have different or even opposing views. You can’t be an ardent fan of Notre Dame football and not expect to have problems around Thanksgiving with a host of nieces and nephews who became USC Trojans. But as adamant as he could be about his views, he recognized that whatever the differences; what you shared was vastly more important.
When I was in fourth grade, I was to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Holy Name Catholic Church in Birmingham. Most of the kids were pretty skeptical about the prospects and you had to recruit a sponsor, not your parents, to answer for you as part of the sacrament. My birthday happens to fall on the feast day of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, so my choice of sponsor was pretty evident. I was amazed when Uncle Bernie agreed to stand up for me. Here he was ready to publicly and fearlessly affirm his faith and answer for me, while I feebly acquiesced in the proceedings. It was a profound lesson in personal integrity that still resonates.
“So, finally, Uncle Bern, wait up, old buddy! You had a wonderful 35,074 days, but they rocketed by in a flash. And like those long-ago games of tag on the hillside of the big house, you leave us all gasping and grasping after your example.”
J, Kevin Murphy
Members of The American Legion Charles J. Fulton Post 382 in St. Clair express their deep sympathy to the family and friends of our fellow Legionnaire, Bernie. We are grateful for his military and community service.
Bernie Kuhn was a wonderful friend of my late husband, Ed Steinmetz, and a devoted fellow River District Hospital Board Trustee. Bernie was beloved in the community and highly regarded and respected by our family. May God grant him eternal rest.
Shirley Steinmetz, Marine City, by her children
What one does for themselves alone die's with them. What one does for others, remains forever and becomes immortal.
What an honor, to live during the lifetime of Bernie and be able to observe him as an example of how a devoted and honorable, Catholic, Husband, Father, Grandfather, business person and friend should live their life.
The souls of the just are in the hand of God. "Book of Wisdom"
Truly, Bernie's soul is in the hand of God.
Joan & Jim McTevia
Mr. Kuhn will surely be missed. One of my favorite memories of him is during the Kindergarten Fire Truck ride waving to Mr. Kuhn out front of the dealership. Rest in peace Mr. Kuhn. Love and prayers, the Beaudua Family
