John M. Kuhlman

Professor John M. Kuhlman, 97, died January 17, 2021 in Asheville, North Carolina. He is survived by his wife Dorothy Michaels of Mars Hill North Carolina, his three children, Ann Kuhlman (Adel Allouche) of North Haven CT, Kay Kolditz (Tom Kolditz) of Houston TX, and John Kuhlman Jr. of Columbia, MO, four grandchildren Jenna Bell (Dan Bell), Kerry Feeney (Matt Feeney), Adam Allouche (Allison Allouche) and Alexander Allouche, and four great-grandchildren, Mary Ann Bell, William Bell, Leigh Feeney and Addison Allouche. Born in 1923, John grew up on a farm in eastern Washington state with his parents Oscar and Amy Kuhlman, his brother Henry (Hank) and sisters Mary Beth and Jean. He attended school in Lamont Washington and often bragged he was third from the top of his class. He always noted quickly that he was also third from the bottom since there were only 5 in his class. He left the farm for college at Washington State University but his education was interrupted by the Army and he served during WWII in Europe. Being in the Army taught him first hand that the world was not flat. After completing his service and his undergraduate education he went to the University of Wisconsin and earned his PhD in Economics. It was at Wisconsin that he met and married Mary Ann Sigley (1925-1991) of Salem, West Virginia. They were married for 40 years. John’s passion was teaching. He spent the majority of his teaching career at the University of Missouri, where for many years he taught the introductory Economics class with 1000 students a semester. He always had time for students and kept his door open for any and all who needed help or just wanted to visit. Even after a severe hearing loss in the early ’70’s John continued to teach. Over the years of teaching John collected many letters from students which kept him in great company during his retirement. He retired in 1985 and started the next chapter of his life - volunteering. He volunteered for many organizations; two of his favorites were the Bureau of Land Management in New Mexico and the Literacy Council in Asheville North Carolina. It was in New Mexico that John met Dorothy Michaels and was married for a second time. John, a huge believer in public education, was very proud that he was able to attend public schools from primary grades to earning a PhD at little or no cost. He paid that back many times over and told his students that they had an obligation to take their education seriously because the taxpayers were helping to foot the bill. Pasó Por Aqui - Thousands of students passed through Professor Kuhlman’s class and he made a difference in their lives, as they did in his. Memorial donations may be made to the Dr. John Kuhlman Graduate Fellowship at the University of Missouri, or to Read to Succeed.

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