LEE ROY KUHLMAN

Lee Roy Kuhlman, of Monroe Ohio, passed away December 3. He was born February 6, 1934 in Lima, OH; the son of Leroy And Matilda (Elshoff) Kuhlman. He married JoAnn Kuck on June 2, 1956. He is survived by JoAnn, his wife of 65 years, along with his four sons Mark (Elisabeth) of Crescent Springs, KY; John (Joan) Kuhlman of Batesville, IN; Steven (Rebecca) Kuhlman of Winchester, MA; and Paul (Benita) Kuhlman of Avon. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren: Victoria, Charlotte, and Benjamin Kuhlman; April and Bryan Kuhlman; Caroline and Cate Kuhlman. He is survived by a sister-in-law, Glenda Kuck of Saint Marys.

Lee was a 1952 graduate of New Knoxville High School where he lettered in baseball. He attended the University of Cincinnati before graduating from Miami-Jacobs Business School. He returned to New Knoxville to work for his father in the People Savings Bank, an institution founded by his grandfather in 1910. His banking career was briefly interrupted by his service in the U.S. Army, 3rd Infantry, Marne Division as he was stationed for 18 months in Schweinfurt, Germany. JoAnn joined him there and they returned with great memories and many friends with whom they maintained contact.

He served on the local volunteer fire department and was active in many community organizations. In his spare time, he enjoyed cruises in the Caribbean with JoAnn, puttering around in the garden behind the house, and reading.

After the Peoples Savings Bank was sold to the Fifth Third Bank of Cincinnati, he served on the Board of Fifth Third Bank of Western Ohio. He also served on the Board of Dorothy Love Retirement Community in Sidney. Lee remained a member of First Church in New Knoxville, OH and had served in a variety of roles prior to moving to Monroe.

A life-long baseball fan, Lee was involved in coaching local baseball teams and worked for many years as an umpire. He was an avid supporter of the Cincinnati Reds. Funeral rites were held on Thursday, Dec. 9, at the First Church of New Knoxville, the Reverend Joel Bucklin, officiant. Burial followed at Pilger Ruhe Cemetery, where American Legion Post 444 conducted military honors.

Memorial gifts may be given, in lieu of flowers, to First Church of New Knoxville, New Knoxville Fire Department or Ohio Living Mount Pleasant, Monroe.