Richard Frank Kuettel, 92, died Aug. 1, 2018. He was born in St. Paul to Catherine (Thera) and Frank Herman Kuettel on Aug. 13, 1925.
In 1943, when a senior at Central High School in St. Paul, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he trained as a pilot first and then as a navigator — eventually flying a weather reconnaissance squadron. In 1946, Richard enrolled in the pharmacy program at the University of Minnesota and joined the VP 812 Naval Reserve Unit.
He married Kathleen McCoy in 1948. In 1950, Richard’s VP 812 Squadron was one of the first to be called into service during the Korean War. Richard served for two years at the Whidbey Island Naval Base in Washington training future navigators.
After the Korean war, he pursued a career in pharmacy until he retired in 1989. Richard and Kathleen raised their family at 1525 N. Albert in St. Paul before moving to Roseville in 1994.
Being a “people person,” Richard participated in many volunteer activities at Church of the Holy Childhood and in the community. “Grandpa Dick” will always be remembered for his love of learning, his ability to fix anything, his interest in music (including the High Masses at Holy Childhood and the U of MN Marching Band concerts). He loved to travel.
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen; children, Kathleen (Robert) Manke, Thomas, Michael (Andrea), Theresa (Francisco) Kuettel-Andres and Steven (Anne); 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Church of the Holy Childhood in Como Park, with interment at Calvary Cemetery.
