Rev. James "Jim" D. Kuhn, 79 of Lima, Ohio, died on Monday, June 18, 2012, at St. Rita's Medical Center, Lima, Ohio at 5 a.m. He was a former pastor of the Bluffton First United Methodist Church.
Born Wednesday, May 31, 1933, in Burton, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Homer Kuhn and the late Phoebe (Ashcraft) Kuhn. He married Nancy Shuster Kuhn, June 29, 1957. She survives in Lima.
He was a 1951 graduate of Howland High School, Warren, Ohio, a 1955 graduate of Ohio Northern University, Ada. He also attended Boston University School of Theology, and received his Masters of Divinity from United Seminary, Dayton in 1960.
He was ordained a Deacon in the Methodist Church in 1956 in the East Ohio Conference, and an Elder in the West Ohio Conference in 1960.
Over his 56 years of pastoral service he has served many churches in the Ohio area including King Avenue Methodist Church- Columbus; Springboro-Red Lion UM Charge; Bluffton First UMC, Bluffton, OH; St. Paul's UMC-Elida, (for 14 year-where he also drove school bus for seven years); Jackson Christ UMC- Jackson, OH for 11 years; Englewood UMC, Dayton; Ada First UMC, Ada OH; Elida Immanuel UMC, Elida; LaFayette First UMC; and was an Associate Pastor of Lima Trinity UMC.
Rev. Kuhn had a real love for preaching, plus the people he served. His love for music was expressed by singing in most of the church choirs; plus singing in the Bluffton Community Chorus; the LaFayette Chorus; the Lima Symphony Chorus and playing in Hand Bell Choirs at Jackson and Trinity. He sang in the West Ohio Conference Ministers Choir for over 40 years; including two tours to Europe, to Florida, mid western states and the West Coast, served as President of the Choir.
He and his wife Nancy also had a ministry to youth choirs at Elida and Jackson. His wife being the Director, and Jim helping with the sound and set ups, plus bus driving. He also led two tours to the Holy Land.
He was very active in drama throughout his ministry, having played Jacob Morley in "Scrooge" at Jackson four different times, and Simon the Zealot at Trinity Church's Maundy Thursday Service. He has served on many District and Conference Committees, including Ordained Ministry, Pastoral Care, District Administrative Board, and was camp Director at Camp Wesley for 16 years, also Dean of the Lima District Senior High Lakeside Institute. He also served as a volunteer Chaplain at Holzer Medical Center, Gallipolis, and on the staff and volunteer Chaplain at Lima, Memorial health systems.
Surviving are: a daughter, Lisa Heflin of New Richmond, Ohio and her husband, Douglas; a son Mark Kuhn of Lima; a sister Mrs. Betty Boyle, of Warren, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Shuster, of Warren, Ohio; five grandchildren, Faith, Daniel and Rachel Heflin, Benjamin Kuhn, Rebecca Kuhn.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Rebecca Kuhn; a grandson, David Kuhn, another grandson, Jonathan Kuhn; a sister, Mrs. Mary Batzdorf; a brother-in-law, Paul Boyle; and a brother-in-law, Paul Shuster.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, at Trinity United Methodist Church,
A Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 21, at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev David Harris officiating. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Elida.
Memorial contributions can be made to the family.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com
