Martha Ruth Kuhlman

Martha Ruth Kuhlman, 93, passed away peacefully on March 31, 2024, in Newark, Ohio, after a

brief hospital stay. Martha was born on January 24, 1931, to Herbert and Olive "Ruth"

(Flanders) Larson, in Waterloo, IA, joining elder brother Charles. Soon after, the family returned

to the Flanders family home outside of Knoxville, IA, where her father could help with the

responsibilities of the farm, and where her brother Jack was born. From a young age, Martha

was very curious about the world and in her words, "what was out there," and this curiosity

shaped her future as an avid reader, world traveler, lifelong learner, and occasional

rabble-rouser. The extended family connections fostered at the farm in her childhood, and the

enduring friendships she made around the world, remained vital to her throughout her life.

Martha's family later moved back to Waterloo, where she graduated from East High School, and

then from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught middle school science and

citizenship in Clarinda, IA, and then served in Christian education at First Methodist in Red Oak,

IA, before deciding to continue her own education at Northwestern University and Garrett

Theological Seminary, completing a Masters degree in Christian Education. Her first savings

enabled a solo trip to Europe for a Finnish work camp and subsequent sightseeing. Following

graduation, she served as DCE at Grace Methodist in Lake Bluff, IL. It was at Garrett that she

met Frank Kuhlman, who shared her passions for education and seeing the world, and they

were married on August 22, 1959.

In 1962, Frank and Martha moved with their 10-month old daughter to Tokyo, where their son

was born, and then to the cosmopolitan city of Kobe, Japan, where they lived for 25 years,

working with the Board of Global Ministries teaching English to young adults at Palmore

Institute. In addition to classroom teaching, Martha led student discussion groups in their home,

and mentored students hoping to study or work in the United States. She also taught

occasional short courses at Canadian Academy, the international school her children attended,

and was very active at Kobe Union Church, the local English-speaking congregation. On their

furloughs back to the States, the Kuhlmans enjoyed sharing stories of their work and their

experiences in Japanese culture with congregations across the midwest. Over the years, Frank

and Martha's shared love of travel also took the family on many trips around Asia and across

Europe, helping to instill a global perspective in their children. Then in the late 1980s,

broadening both their professional and personal horizons, the Kuhlmans taught English in

Shanghai and Fuzhou, China, for three years.

Returning to the United States in 1990, while Frank served as pastor of United Methodist

churches in Pepin and Alma, WI, Martha became very involved with United Methodist Women,

at both the local and conference levels, often adding her own dramatic flair to mission

presentations. She and a friend did extensive research into the life and times of Laura Ingalls

Wilder, who was born in Pepin, and they published a book about the town as it was in the

1870s. She also wrote numerous letters to the editors of local papers, challenging readers to

become engaged and informed, and to question their assumptions about politics and social

justice. Adding to their travels, she and Frank explored southern Europe, joined several mission

trips to Central and South America, and celebrated their 50th anniversary with a cross-Canada

rail journey and family vacation near Banff.

Following their retirement, the Kuhlmans continued to live in their "dream house" on the

Mississippi River and found kindred spirits at the Unitarian Universalist congregation in Winona,

MN. In 2007, they moved into the Otterbein retirement community at St. Marys, OH, to be

closer to family in Ohio and Kentucky. There, the Kuhlmans found pleasure in the beauty of the

lake and surroundings, and immersed themselves in activities, forming a discussion group on

theological perspectives and facilitating an ongoing study of the Great Courses which continued

for many years. They also traveled to seminars and workshops on theology around the country

- and Martha continued to write letters to the editor!

After Frank's death, Martha moved in 2021 to Otterbein (Kendal) at Granville, OH, near where

her son teaches at Denison University. She has appreciated the warmth, diversity of

experience, and academic culture she found there. Her family is very grateful for the kindness

and support of the staff and her friends.

Martha is survived by her sister-in-law Cindy (George) Kuhlman of Athens, GA; her son Peter

(Janell Baran) of Newark, OH; her daughter Maija (Bart) Schaefer of Novato, CA; and

grandsons Ben and Justin.

The family plans a private memorial in the future. To honor Martha's outspoken commitment to

peace and social justice, and her concern for child hunger, memorial gifts may be sent to

Feeding America, to World Central Kitchen, or to the Kids Bag Program of Agape Ministries in

St. Marys, OH.