William F. Kuechmann 1919 - 2009

KUECHMANN, MAY, SWAIN

Posted By: Debbie (email)
Date: 8/29/2010 at 09:50:59

The Columbian newspaper
Vancouver, Clark County, Washington
Tuesday, September 1, 2009

WILLIAM F. "BILL" KUECHMANN
24 December 1919 ~ 27 August 2009

Bill and his twin brother Bob were born in Burlington, Iowa, to J. Theodore and Myrtle (May) Kuechmann. Bill was the last survivor of eight children. He grew up in Burlington and earned a BA from the State University of Iowa and an MDiv from Colgate Rochester Divinity School. He retired to Vancouver in 1983 after serving in the Presbyterian ministry and as a social worker for the state of Illinois.

Bill is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Gene (Swain) Kuechmann and by his children and their spouses: Bruce and Patricia Kuechmann, Frank Kuechmann, Mariha Kuechmann and Jackson H. Welch, and Kayla and Joe Louis Wildman. He is also survived by four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

While living in suburban Chicago, Bill became a social activist, prompted by such issues as political corruption and racial tensions, the Vietnam War, and the war on poverty. On moving to Vancouver, Bill and his wife became two of the forty founders of Share House, on whose board he served for some years. He protested the invasion of Iraq and helped to establish Vancouver for Peace. He supported efforts against homelessness and hunger, and generally tried to champion constructive efforts to make Vancouver and the world a better place to live and to preserve the Earth for future generations.

Bill belonged to the Hudson's Bay branch of the American Association of University Women and to the Clark County Genealogical Society. He enjoyed reading, travel, especially with Elderhostel, and attending concerts of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

There will be no public service. Remembrances may be sent to Share House in Vancouver.