Arthur and Aurora Kuhn and Family

Art and Ora had a family of three sons and two daughters: Mildred Harriet, born March 3, 1914; Robert Lundquist, born January 4, 1917; Arthur Melford, born December 30, 1918; Paul Ferdinand, born April 1, 1924; Joan Marie, born born January 23, 1928.

Mildred chose not to extend her education beyond eighth grade. That was not uncommon during that period. She was a member of the Girl Scouts. For a number of years Mildred took piano lessons. She taught Sunday School classes at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. She enjoyed childcare and baby-sitting for a number of families.

Mildred was very interested in China painting. After painting the china, she would fire the pieces in a kiln. She became very proficient with her china painting after a series of lessons. Her only advertising was by word of mouth. Much of her china painting has consisted of special orders.

Mildred lived at home until her marriage. During that time she was invaluable in helping Mother. When Mildred and her husband, Cecil, moved to Williston, North Dakota, she taught classes in china painting.

Robert graduated from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota in 1940.

Arthur graduated from Red Wing High School in the class of 1936. He was interested in a business education. In the fall, he enrolled at the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis. Upon graduation in 1937, he was employed by the Remler Brewery Company, in Red Wing, as a bookkeeper. During World War II, Art was drafted into the Army in July, 1944. He was sent to Camp Hood, Texas, for training. In November of that year, Art was sent to Camp Mead, Baltimore, Maryland. From there, he was sent overseas. He was a Private, First Class, and fought with the Third Army in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Art was wounded in the “Battle of the Bulge” in Luxembourg on January 22, 1945. He was wounded in his right arm from shrapnel and received a back injury from the concussion. He was first hospitalized in France and then was transferred to an army hospital in England. He returned to the States in April, 1945 and was sent to the Carson Convalescent Hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado. His wife, Blanche, and son, Duane, accompanied him to Colorado. Art received an honorable medical discharge from the army in July, 1945. He returned to Red Wing with his family.

After his discharge from the Army, Art was employed by the Red Wing Potteries as manager of the sales room. In 1950, he was elected secretary-treasurer of the Red Wing Pottery. The following year, Art was re-elected to his position and was also elected assistant manager. He was elected a director in 1953 and retained his present position. Because of a union strike, the Red Wing Potteries folded. Art then became a company representative for several gift lines and traveled in the upper mid-west. A number of company “reps”, including Art, hold gift shows in Minneapolis, Chicago, and New York.

Paul graduated from Red Wing High School in 1942. He lettered in football, playing guard position on the team. Red Wing was champion of the Big 8 Conference in 1939. Paul played in the band and was a member of the National Athletic Honor Society. In the fall of 1942, he enrolled in the College of Pharmacy at the University of Minnesota. However, on December 5 of that year, he enlisted in the Army Air Corp Reserve. He reported for duty February 23, 1943. He was sent to Michigan State University for five months for special schooling and instructions. There followed a series of rapid moves to different training bases: special training at San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center; Victory Field at Vernon, Texas, in December 1943, for flight training; Enid, Oklahoma in February, 1944 for training to fly heavier and faster planes; Frederick, Oklahoma in April 1944 for twin engine advanced training; Liberal, Kansas in July, 1944 for special training; Lincoln, Nebraska in October 1944 to pick up his crew for a B-24 bomber and finally to Pueblo, Colorado where he and his crew had advanced training. He and his crew were stationed in England and made bombing raids on Germany. Paul was a 2nd Lt. and was pilot on the bomber. He was discharged November 1, 1945. Paul was employed by Abbott Laboratories in January 1949 as their drug representative in the Tucson, Arizona area. He continued working the Tucson area until his retirement in February 1983.

Joan was active in extra-curricular activities during her high school education. For a time she was one of the majorettes with the high school band. She was a member of the chorus and the dramatic team. She won numerous awards in the humorous division. In the summer she worked in our father’s drugstore. She was a member of Jobs Daughter. After graduation, she attended the University of Minnesota for one year. She then was employed as a clerk at the Luther Brotherhood Insurance Company in Minneapolis.