Donald L. Kuhn

Donald L. Kuhn 10/08/1928 08/26/2010 Resident of Oakland Minister, Writer, Playwright, Director, Producer, Editor, Publisher, Educator, Artist, Friend. Donald was the first born on October 8, 1928 to Ruth and Benjamin Kuhn, a former mail carrier in Carnegie, OK. He graduated from Carnegie High School in 1946, received his AA from Carnegie Junior College in 1948 before receiving his Bachelor of Arts (English) from Oklahoma City University in 1950. Don moved to Illinois where he attended George Williams College and later received a Masters of Divinity from Garrett Theological Seminary. He also took courses at Yale University and Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. He pursued his PhD in Social Ethics at Northwestern University and completed all residency requirements but discontinued with the degree program, but proudly claimed that he "failed with integrity." Afterand duringhis educational pursuits, he worked for the United Methodist Church at National, Regional, Conference and local levels. In Oklahoma, he took his first church in Gotebo, OK at the age of 18; and he held associate pastor positions at First Methodist Church of Carnegie and Capital Hill Methodist Church in Oklahoma City. In Illinois, he was the Associate Pastor of Wesley Methodist Church in Aurora, IL. In Washington, DC, he was the Director of Communications with both The Board of Temperance and The General Board of Christian Social Concerns. In California, he first worked with the Glide Foundation as their first Executive Director and was the Minister at Temple United Methodist Church in San Francisco. He started and developed Trinity Center in Berkeley, CA. And his last appointment was to Lake Merritt United Methodist Church (formerly First Church). He retired from the Methodist Church in 1993. Working behind the scenes, he was very involved in San Francisco politics working with the School Board, Integration and Desegregation of the schools in the City, the Juvenile Commission, housing problems, drug abuse, with election campaigns for US Congress, City Supervisors, School Board Members and Mayors, the police commission, police brutality and the City's poverty program. His ONLY non-church position was with George Moscone in the San Francisco Mayor's office where he helped develop policy and projects to improve San Francisco, including the City's 911 plan. He was an artist. Whether it was with the written or spoken word, oil or chalk on canvas, yarn latched in a rug or stitched, sculpting bonsais or arranging flowers, wrapping packages with bows, or making tree ornaments and trimming a Christmas Tree, he wanted to create something pleasing to himself and others. This was apparent in ALL of his works. After retirement, he and his wife moved to Cloverdale, CA. Don continued to write, needlepoint and work with his bonsais, but his primary occupation was caring for his wife with Alzheimer's Disease. He cared for her in their home for 10 years with love and grace. Emogene died in January 2003 at the age of 81 and after 42 years of marriage. Then in 2005, Don began his own cognitive decline. Together with his daughters, he decided that he needed to move. In 2005, Don returned to Oakland and moved into his new home at Salem Lutheran Home. As his condition progressed, he moved from the Assisted Living Program to The Terrace, Salem's Dementia Unit and finally to their Skilled Nursing Unit. On August 20, he came down with pneumonia from which he never recovered. His final days, in his room at Salem Lutheran Home, were free from pain and he was surrounded by great love and caring attention from his family which included MANY caregivers and staff at Salem who had worked and lived with, cared for and loved him. When commenting on any personal victory or failure, Don would say, "I tried." For the rest of us, we know HE DID! Donald is survived by his two daughters, Karen Kuhn of Oakland, CA and Kathleen (Robert) Prokupek of Point Reyes Station, CA; his sister Carol Kuhn Marks of Pauls Valley, OK, nieces, nephews and many friends. A memorial service for Donald will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2010 gathering at 2:30 PM with the service starting at 3:00 PM at Lake Merritt UMC, 1330 Lakeshore Ave. Oakland, CA. Memorial contributions honoring Donald L. Kuhn may be sent to Salem Lutheran Home, "Charitable Care Fund", 2361 East 29th Street, Oakland, CA 94606. Arrangements by ADOBE CREEK FUNERAL HOME, Petaluma, CA. (707) 789-9000