Frances "Fran" E. Kuehl

Frances Kuehl, a native of Fayette County and a long-time resident of Cedar Falls, died of natural causes on Friday, October 13, in the Stanard Assisted Living Center, Cedar Falls. She was 95. Frances Elaine Morgan was born August 17, 1922 in Stanley, IA to Frank and Belle James Morgan. Fran was devoted to her late husband Ray Kuehl, who preceded her in death in 2014. She is survived by her children, Craig Kuehl of NYC (Jane Lucas) and Vicki Smith of Bettendorf (Bruce), two grandchildren, Justin Smith (Stephanie) and Ryan Smith (Alejandra) and three great grandchildren, Addison, Maddox and Christian. She is also survived by a sister, Shirley Walden of Edina, MN. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Warren Morgan, Oelwein. Fran graduated as Valedictorian from Stanley High School in 1939. She received her two-year teaching certificate from Upper Iowa University, and taught for two years in Carpenter. She married Ray Kuehl in 1943, and joined him in Texas, where he was serving in the U.S. Army during WW II. The couple moved to Delhi, Traer and Dundee, as Ray pursued his career as a public school administrator. The family moved to Strawberry Point in 1955, where they lived until 1966, and Fran worked as a substitute teacher in nearby towns. Ray and Fran moved to Cedar Falls in 1967, where her experience as a volunteer brought her much satisfaction and the admiration of an ever-widening circle of friends. She was active in the United Methodist Women, the PEO Sisterhood, the Tuesday Club, UNI Connections and the Western Home Communities Auxiliary. She was a regular volunteer for KUNI and the Cedar Falls Historical Society. She served two years on the board of the Western Home Communities. The Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce and Junior League honored her in 1986 for her volunteer service. Her friends and family all knew her as the true embodiment of the word “lady”. She was devoted to her family, and doted on her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Besides family, her other passions were sewing, quilting, biking in George Wyth Park, hiking in Arizona, baking (especially lemon meringue pie, apple pie and her famous cinnamon rolls!) and reading. She was an enthusiastic Cubs fan, and was ecstatic when they won the 2016 World Series. She and Ray enjoyed winters in Arizona, and visits from family there. They traveled abroad to visit their son in Mexico, Switzerland, Tunisia, South Africa and Cyprus. She learned to ride a bike at 60: one of her treasured moments was cycling at the age of 74 on the medieval city wall in Lucca, Italy. There will be a Celebration of Fran’s Life at the First United Methodist Church in Cedar Falls on Wednesday, October 18 at 11 am, with visitation for an hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls. Fran requested that memorials be sent to the First United Methodist Church, Cedar Falls, The PEO Foundation, or the Western Home Foundation in lieu of flowers.

Frances "Fran" E. Kuehl

August 17, 1922 - October 13, 2017