Richard B. Kuchle, Sr.

Richard B. Kuchle, Sr., died on March 7, 2022 after having lived 89 years in his beloved Boone County. "Dick" was the first child born to Joseph A. and Clotilde Kuchle on July 1, 1932. He grew up in the woods behind their home on Watson Avenue along with his three younger siblings.

In 1955 at a Catholic Youth Organization dance, he encouraged his long-time friend Roger Moore to introduce him to that "cute ticket-taker" whom he said he would one day marry. He fulfilled that promise on April 28, 1956, marrying the love of his life, Marian Schewe. Their nearly 66-year union produced children: Mary, Rick Jr., and Jo. They raised their family as active members of Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Erlanger for all of their lives. He was a devout Catholic who loved his faith, his family, his church, and his country.

Dick first worked for his dad at Erlanger Tractor Company in 1943, and later Kuchle Ford, on the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Dixie Highway in Erlanger. When that business outgrew its space, it moved to the current location and was re-branded as "Airport Ford." He later left that business to start his own company, Kuchle Car Care, on Donaldson Highway.

Dick had always been fascinated by semi-trucks and in his early life he had wanted to be a long-haul truck driver. He fulfilled that passion in his mid-fifties when he went to truck driving school and got his CDL. He drove in every one of the lower 48 states and up to the date of his death could provide you the routing information and all of the best truck stops along the way to any destination in the continental US. One of his proudest truck driving moments was when he backed an 18-wheeler into the main post office in downtown Manhattan.

A consummate story-teller, Dick collected stories, tales, jokes, and poems from radio, reading, and a large network of friends and colleagues. There is hardly a bank teller, store clerk, or friend that Dick would meet that he would not start the conversation with, "I have a story for you." He was a voracious reader of the Wall Street Journal and countless books.

In his later years he moved with Marian to Colonial Heights in Florence, a place that they loved and where they were loved in return. He leaves behind friends and staff there to whom he showed great kindness and compassion, and they to him. Dick is survived by his loving wife, Marian, his three children: Mary, Rick (Jen Brennan), and Jo (Gene Therriault) and grandchildren in Kentucky, Maryland and Alaska; as well as his siblings: David Kuchle, Susan Douthitt, and Sandra Kleinberg. Dick was plagued by various lung and heart issues that ultimately took his life.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022 at Mary Queen of Heaven Church at 1150 Donaldson Highway, Erlanger, KY. There will be a viewing at 10:30am, Mass at 11:30am, graveside services at St. Mary's Cemetery, and then a reception at the Clubhouse of Fairways at Meadowood at the corner of Bunkers Avenue and Putters Point, Burlington, KY. The family invites you to bring your favorite story that Dick shared with you.

To share a memory of Dick or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.