Thomas H. Kuchelmeister

Thomas Henry Kuchelmeister, 75, died on Thursday November 16,2017 after a courageous battle with kidney cancer. He was born in Appleton, Wisconsin on April 12,1942 to the late Henry and Rosella (Coenen). He grew up in Kaukauna, graduating Kaukauna High School in 1960. He enlisted in the United States Air Force with his long- time friend Tom Summers who grew up just a few blocks from him. Tom actively served his country from 1960 to 1965 when he was honorably discharged due to a service-related injury. He was an aircraft and missile electrical repairman and spoke fondly of the places where he was stationed including Florida, Korea and Osaka, Japan.
He is survived by the love of his life, Carol (Kauer) with whom he just celebrated their 52nd anniversary; his two children who he loved dearly, Sarah (Scott) Taylor of Joshua Tree, California; Jeff (Melinda) Kuchelmeister, of Kaukauna, Wisconsin; his brothers, Frank (Jeanne) Kuchelmeister of Montgomery, Texas, and Rick (Terri) Kuchelmeister of Kaukauna, Wisconsin; Sister and brother in laws: Eileen Kettner, Don (Lois) Straus, Leland (Bev)Richard, Larry (Carol) Kauer; Tom leaves behind close Aunts and Uncles, including Aunt Dot who baked his favorite buns; his many cousins and he especially loved and enjoyed spending time with his wonderful nieces and nephews.
Tom graduated from Appleton Technical Institute with a degree in Industrial Electronics. He worked almost 25 years at Giddings and Lewis Bickford Co, including moving his family to Texas in 1980 when he became their field service representative. He traveled with his work throughout the USA, and abroad to Canada, Mexico, Israel and Saudi Arabia. He also worked for LTV Aerospace in Dallas, and at the end of his career for Dartec in Illinois which allowed him to live and work in Monterrey and Torreon, Mexico. He loved his time in Mexico and made many good friends there.
Tom loved camping and fishing, going to the gym, spending summers in Wisconsin, and traveling with longtime friends. He would never turn down an opportunity to help someone out, or if you needed something fixed he was the man to call.
After retirement, Tom became actively involved with veterans groups, including Roll-Call.org. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations can be made to www.Roll-Call.org >, or to the MD Anderson Cancer Center for research. https://gifts.mdanderson.org
For all of their care: the family would like to thank Dr. Buksh and his staff for your time and compassion, and for your mutual love of the Green Bay Packers. To Dr. Richey, Dr. Wood, Dr.Tannir, Dr. Ross and all the many doctors and nurses at MD. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and Harris Hospitals in Fort Worth; thanks also to the Home Health Nurses . Many thanks to the kind neighbors and who helped us along this journey, and for the many prayers from so many people. We are so grateful and blessed. Tom fought as hard as he possibly could never complaining through his painful journey.
Tom was a great man and his presence in our lives will be truly missed. God has called him home and his spirit will be with us always.