James R Kuehl
James Raymond Kuehl, 82, of Elmwood, passed away January 16, 2026 at Mayo Clinic Health System-Red Cedar in Menomonie from complications due to a decade of battling Nephrotic Syndrome.
Jim was born March 8, 1943, to Herman and Lorraine (Hei) Kuehl in Durand, Wisconsin. He was a lifelong resident of Elmwood, farming the land and tending cattle for 57 years in Dunn County. Jim felt pride genetically selecting for desired traits in Holstein and registered Red Angus Cattle. The farm is in a Wisconsin Land Conservancy to protect the natural resources in perpetuity.
Jim qualified for a People-to-People Cultural Exchange to Cuba where he shared his farming experiences with producers and sellers of cattle and crops. He traveled with his wife to 53 countries and saw much of the United States.
One of Jim’s favorite trips was to China where he climbed the Badaling section of the Great Wall. He shared lava boulders with iguanas and Waved Albatrosses on the Galapagos Islands.
In his spare time, Jim worked on Sudoku, painted, read, gardened, tended to birds and cats, and pieced together numerous jigsaw puzzles. He enjoyed watching college and professional sports, especially the Minnesota Vikings. Jim especially enjoyed table-side conversations regarding democracy, tolerance, education, poverty, healthcare, generosity and overall humanity.
Jim was proud of his four stepchildren: Barbara, Michael, and Gary Shields and Loretta Wilbur. He dearly loved his nine grandchildren: Kathleen, Samantha, Alea, Emily, Brant, Alix, Spencer, Dylan & Dalton. Five great grandchildren added to his joy: Noah, Josephine, Charlotte, Stella Rose and Gavin.
Jim is survived by his wife, Virginia (Grover); stepchildren, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Judy, Donna and Thomas.
A Celebration of Jim's life will be held in the spring.
Rheil Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Menomonie is serving the family. On-line condolences may be left at RheilFuneralHome.com