Philip William Kuckhahn
PHILIP KUCKHAHN
Philip William Kuckhahn died and went to heaven to be with Jesus our Savior on Aug. 20, 2025, in Grand Rapids, at the age of 93. He was formerly of Manistee and Bark River (Hyde), Michigan.
He was born April 17, 1932, in St. Charles, Minn. He was the son of the late the Rev. Herman F. and Louise Helen (Wesotzke) Kuckhahn. He attended Northwestern College (WELS) and graduated with a B.A., and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WELS) and graduated in 1958 with a doctorate in theology.
He married Susan Ruth Stark on July 6, 1958, at Calvary Lutheran Chapel in Madison, Wis. She died on Nov. 13, 2023. Susan was preceded in death by her parents Ruth Stark and Gilbert Stark, brother Duane Stark and brother-in-law Colonel Karl Kuckhahn.
Philip served as a minister of the gospel in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod for 42-plus years, and he retired May 1, 1997. He was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELS) in Manistee. His hobbies/special interests were fishing, hunting, gardening, hobby crafts and collecting antiques.
He is survived by sisters-in-law Harriet “Dolly” Stark and Gertrude “Trudy” Kuckhahn; children Kim (William) Barrett and grandchildren Jennifer (Mason) Lees, and Brandon Barrett, David Kuckhahn, Mark (Diana) Kuckhahn, Kathy (Brad) Clark; and grandchildren Hayden Clark and Bethany Clark, Lisa (Dwight) Cunningham Jr.; and grandchild Harper Cunningham; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Philip was preceded in death by his brother, Karl Kuckhahn; and brother-in-law, Duane Stark.
Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (WELS) in Manistee, with Pastor Dennis Himm officiating. The family will receive friends for visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service at the church. Final interment will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Manistee.
Memorial contributions in memory of Philip may be directed to St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 313 Fourth St., Manistee, MI 49660
The family thanks everyone for their support, prayers and visits to the hospitals and medical facilities and throughout all the years.
The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Manistee.