Florence Kuhlmann

Funeral services celebrating the life of Florence Kuhlmann, age 88, of Buffalo Lake and formerly Glencoe were held Monday, March 2, 2009 at 2:00 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Plato. Officiating was Rev. Bruce Laabs. The organist was Cheryl Andrix. A duet of “The Twenty-Third Psalm” was sung by Andy and Paul Spiegel while Maria Spiegel accompanied with sign language. Lisa Rose sang “Worthy Is The Lamb/Crown Him With Many Crowns”. Congregational hymns included “What a Friend We Have In Jesus” and “Amazing Grace”. Serving as casket bearers were Maria Spiegel, Lisa Rose, Kevin Dettman, Andrew Spiegel and Richard Noe. Interment was in the Ferguson Cemetery in rural Norwood Young America. Visitation was held prior to the services at the church.
Florence Bertha Louisa Jaekel was born September 22, 1920 in Young America Township, the daughter of Emil and Laura (Vollrath) Jaekel. She was always proud of the fact that she shared the same birthday as her father. She was baptized on October 24, 1920 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waconia by Rev. William F. Schneider and was later confirmed into the faith on March 25, 1934 also at Trinity Lutheran by Rev. Schneider. Florence’s confirmation verse was John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Florence was raised on a farm and was well versed in country life. She attended both country school and Parochial school in Waconia. She graduated from Waconia High School in 1939. She and her cousin, Myra Ruddloff, stayed with Herman and Clara Malnau, her aunt and uncle while attending high school. Aunt Clara became a mentor to her during those years. As a young person, Florence taught herself how to play piano. She also bought and learned to play an accordion. She and her sister, Jeanette, would play duets with Jeanette playing the guitar and Florence on the accordion. She enjoyed playing her repertory of songs that she knew by memory until she was no longer able to do so. After graduating from high school, she worked as a hired girl.
On June 15, 1943, Florence was united in marriage with Gilbert Dietrich Kuhlmann by Rev. William F. Schneider in his parsonage. The couple made their home on his parent’s (Henry and Hattie Kuhlmann) farm near Plato for one year. In 1944, Gilbert and Florence bought a dairy farm near Glencoe. She was glad to have a place to call home, for she had moved numerous times as she was growing up. She helped her husband raise and milk their Holstein dairy cows and run the farm. Florence and Gilbert were blessed with 4 children, 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
Florence always had and loved a big garden. She was forever planting evergreen trees and lilac bushes. Every spring, she would see the beauty of her efforts. Geraniums were her favorite flower and the garden was laced with a row of them. Florence always provided her family with good things to eat. She will always be remembered for making her homemade bread and how the grandchildren would request that Grandma had to make cougan with sugar and cinnamon.
When a close neighbor, Cora Eide, told her that the ladies of her church were starting to make mission quilts, she became very interested. Making mission quilts has been her passion, and she has put her heart and soul into them. Over the years, she has made over 300 mission quilts.
Florence enjoyed playing cards and solitaire. She always encouraged fun and games, especially when cousins came to visit. She was always the instigator of doing special things like making root beer, homemade ice cream, and putting together Christmas skits. She loved to play volleyball with her family, have picnics by the lake and put together puzzles. For a year or so Florence worked and labored on the Kuhlmann genealogy. She compiled a book with the information for everyone. Florence truly loved her family with all her heart and her grandchildren were the apple of her eyes. She was so proud of them and she couldn’t believe she had 9 great grandchildren. Her faith was very strong. It was important to her that her children were taught God’s word and the Lord is the guide of their life. It was also important that her children knew right from wrong. Jesus was the guide of her life. She made a pointe to read the entire Bible.
Florence was a soft spoken person, slow to anger. She worked hard all her life. She grew up during the depression, so she knew how to do without and how to be frugal. She even washed clothes in a ringer washer machine till she was 78, because she thought automatic washing machines took too much water. In 1998 Florence lost her husband and in 2003 she moved to an apartment in Buffalo Lake. She enjoyed the activities held at the nursing home that was next to her apartment. And of course she kept making quilts. In April of 2006 she needed more care so she went to live at the nursing home. She was happy and content and appreciated the loving care she got there. She always took part in all the activities.
On February 25, 2009 Florence Kuhlmann entered her eternal rest at the RC Hospital in Olivia at the age of 88 years, 5 months and 3 days. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Gilbert Kuhlmann, sister and brother Jeanette Kuenzel and Willis Jaekel, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Hilda and George Ohland, Roy and Ellen Latzig, Elmer Kuhlmann. She is survived by her children Evangeline (Lloyd) Dettman of Buffalo Lake, MN, Gloria (Duane) Spiegel) of Shawano, Wis, William Kuhlmann of Hutchinson, Jane Kuhlmann of Glencoe; grandchildren Julie (Richard) Noe of Lakeville, Kevin Dettman of Buffalo Lake, Maria Spiegel of Shawano, Wis, Andrew (Sarah) Spiegel of Kaukauna, Wis, Lisa (Jared) Rose of Eden Prairie, Paul Spiegel of Shawano, Wis; great grandchildren Issac, Esther, Caleb, Rachel and Lydia Noe, Ethan and Titus Rose, Jada and Collin Spiegel; brother-in-law Ortwin Kuenzel; sister-in-law Lucille Jaekel; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. For online guestbook visit www.mcbridefuneralchapels.com