Charis Anne Kuehl

In the early morning hours of June 30, 2024, Charis Anne Kuehl was very unexpectedly ushered out of this life and brought safely into the Lord's presence in heaven. The earthly circumstance that brought about her departure was a housefire at a rented vacation home, but the ultimate cause was that the Lord called his baptized daughter home to heaven, in order that she might begin enjoying The Life that is truly life just five days short of her 39th birthday.

Charis was born on July 4, 1985 in Milwaukee, WI to Rev. Steven Lance Witte and Mary Louise Witte (nee Serwe), and was made a child of God through baptism on July 7, 1985. She grew up in New London, WI and Green Bay, WI where her father served faithfully as a confessional Lutheran pastor. The second of five children, she graduated from Fox Valley Lutheran High School (Appleton, WI) in 2003, and from Wisconsin Lutheran College (Milwaukee, WI) in 2007. A talented soccer player, she played passionately for both the Foxes and the Warriors women's soccer teams. Academically, Charis earned a bachelor's degree in communications and Spanish - and even studied abroad for six months in Seville, Spain. Socially, Charis was never one to sit on the sidelines. From early on she had an incredible gift for forging friendships and keeping things lively.

After college Charis moved to the Washington DC area where she met her future husband, Stephen Kuehl. In 2009 they were married in Green Bay, WI and subsequently moved to Saginaw, MI for Stephen's first post in pastoral ministry. In 2011, they moved to Powell, OH (suburban Columbus) where God graced them with many undeserved earthly and spiritual blessings - not the least of which were their three beautiful daughters - Norah, Vera, and Stella.

The name Charis means "Grace" or "Gift" - and that is exactly what Charis was to those who were blessed to know her. She served the Lord and others as a consummate friend, a positive influencer, and a stalwart encourager. In everything she did, her unshakable faith in the Lord and her unwavering love for people and her passion for life was always evident. She thrived under God's grace and providence as a wife, mother, friend, relative, church member, and car-driving Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Charis was joined in death by her youngest daughter, Stella, as well as her father, Steven Witte, her sister, Lydia Witte, and two of her nieces, Lena and Merci Henselin. She was preceded in death by a cousin, Russell Buck, and a nephew, Joel Henselin. Charis is survived by her beloved husband of 15 years, Rev. Stephen Kuehl, and her treasured daughters, Norah and Vera. She is further survived by her mother, Mary Witte, her sister Hannah (Karl) Henselin, her brothers Seth (Katelyn) Witte and Micah Witte, as well as her in-laws, Rev. James (Carol) Kuehl, Sean (Jennifer) Sweeney, Aaron (Jessica) Meyer, Andrew (Tian) Kuehl, Matthew (Emily) Kuehl, and eight nephews and eight nieces - not to mention her many other relatives & friends, her Mary Kay "Cosmetic Angels" unit, her Shepherd of Peace church family, and the entire Christian Church on earth.

A visitation is scheduled for Sunday, July 21st from 4pm-8pm at Shepherd of Peace, Powell OH (520 Village Park Dr, Powell, OH). A Christian Memorial Service for both Charis and Stella will take place Monday, July 22nd at 10:30am in the Theater/Auditorium at Olentangy Liberty High School (3584 Home Rd, Powell, OH).

A livestream of the service will be available at: https://www.youtube.com/live/XMUvd4ZGhRA

Rather than sending flowers, the family encourages generosity towards the ministry of:

-Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church - https://secure.myvanco.com/L-YSA8/home

-The Russell Buck Fund - https://www.russellbuckfund.com/take-action

-WELS Christian Aid and Relief - https://community.wels.net/page.aspx?pid=394