Richard Steven Kuhn, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, aged 85, passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2022 in Sedalia, Missouri.

Richard was born on June 30, 1936 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of John and Lucille Kuhn.

Richard, above all, loved to tease and be teased with clever words. A lover of the double entendre and a devotee of a good turn-of-phrase, the sparkle in his eye was never greater than when than when his opponent got the upper hand. He lived for the game of words.

Richard was a 30 year veteran and Retired Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force. He was a patriot and a family man who enjoyed playing the role of curmudgeon, with a seemingly crass comment, but we all knew that he was a thoughtful and gentle man, so his wife Linda would just roll her eyes or give back better than she got, which of course pleased him greatly.

He passed on his love of wordplay to his three children, Kelly Tyler, Steve Kuhn, and John Kuhn, and even to his 8 grandchildren, and most likely to all 5 great-grandchildren. By design or happy accident, in his extended family, he created a veritable army of worthy verbal foes.

Richard loved books and over his lifetime, read thousands of books in all kinds of genres. Often, you could find him in front of the TV, but with his nose buried in a book. In this too he influenced us all, as any given evening at our home growing up, we would all be gathered around the television - but none of us watching, all of us reading.

As a young man, Richard was a jazz and swing drummer who was part of several bands and many marching competitions. He was tremendously talented and his love of music stayed with him his entire life, still buying new CDs well into his 70s.

Richard loved boating and owned several boats in his lifetime. He felt at ease on the water. To have his family on his boat and the music playing were the elements of a perfect day. The water was where he smiled the most.

He had no greater love than that of his wife Linda and the family that they had created together. On September 28, 1957, he and Linda Giesler were united in marriage in St. Louis, Missouri. He was devoted to her every day of his life; she was the lens through which he saw the world. An Air Force career led the two of them to England, California, Texas, Nebraska, and eventually back to Missouri where they retired on the water, a place of peace and comfort for Richard.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents as well as his sister Shirley Busack and his brother John Kuhn, Jr.

He is survived by his wife Linda Kuhn, daughter Kelly Tyler and her husband Ray Tyler, his son John Kuhn and wife Jennifer Kuhn, his son Steven Kuhn and his wife Lori Kuhn, as well as 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg, Missouri. Graveside services will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri.