Lawrence G. "Larry" Kuse

The rock of our family, Lawrence Gene Kuse, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, died Feb. 19, 2014, at home with his loved ones. He was 79. Larry was a twin, born July 19, 1934, in St. Louis, Mo., with his brother Bernie, to Virgie Pearl Clukies and Bernard Kuse, There has been a lifelong dispute between the boys as to which of them came into the world first, and we’re all sure that Bernie will use the current turn of events to further his point of view. Larry and Bernie’s father died when the were toddlers, but his mother remarried Joe Reynolds, who had three children, Lee, Evelyn and Joe Jr., and Larry and his merged family lived most of his childhood in Merriam, Ks. He graduated from Shawnee Mission Rural High School, and went to work for the family business, Overland Park Glass Company, in 1949, where he worked for 47 years until his retirement in 1996. He lived most of his adult life in Overland Park, Ks. Larry was married twice before he met his soul mate, Ruth Widner Wiseman in 1989, when they were introduced at a square dance. They married in 1992 and continued to love to dance until Larry wore out his knees. Larry taught Ruth to shoot and built her a bench rest rifle. They traveled to Florida, Phoenix, Colorado, New Mexico and St. Louis to compete in matches together, and Larry loved to brag to friends and family that Ruth had one point in the Bench Rest Hall of Fame. Larry became Ruth’s helpmate, doing almost anything for her, from fixing her sewing machines to shooting the squirrels in the backyard to keep them out of her tomatoes (though it must be noted that he took out a tomato plant or two himself while mowing the lawn). The story behind a trip to Alaska the couple took is a testimonial to how much Larry was loved. The phone rang one day in 1998. The caller told Larry that someone had given him an all-expenses paid trip to the destination of his choice. Larry told the caller he wasn’t interested. She called back the next day, trying to convince him the gift was legitimate, that there were no strings attached, just that the donor wanted to remain anonymous. Several weeks and phone calls later, the donor persevered, and Larry and Ruth went on a two-week cruise to Alaska. The giver of that gift was a childhood friend of one Larry’s children who wanted to return some of the generosity and kindness that Larry was so known for giving to others. That donor still sits in the shadows, but Larry knew who it was, and was deeply and forever touched. As father, Larry was mentor and measuring stick. None us did anything without considering how it would be measured by Dad. But, oh, how he loved his children. He held them to a high standard, but no higher than the standard he held for himself. We all knew the rules: Be honest. Be loyal. Be kind. Not all of us followed them all of the time, and he was never shy about telling us when made the wrong choice. But while Dad was a confident man, he was also a humble man, and knew that he, too, had made a few unfortunate choices. It was that part of him that always forgave us, and he took pride in each of us. To his grandchildren, Larry was both tormentor and protector. He took particular delight in warning them about the lion he kept in the closet, and while they were never quite sure whether that lion was real, they knew their Grandpa would never let them come to harm. But before Larry was father and grandfather, he was son. Perhaps the biggest heartbreak of his life came the day his mother died. He had no doubt that his goodness, all of his childhood happiness, came from her, and he spent his life devoted to her, always keeping a favorite sweater of hers nearby after her death. To his friends, Larry was loyalty and generosity personified. He never turned a friend away if he could help it, and if he couldn’t, the circle of his friends was so large that he usually knew someone who could. That circle was mostly made from Larry’s passion: shooting. In 1961, he met Walt Berger, and they became lifelong friends, on and off the range. (While their children were young, their families spent many happy summer weekends camping and water-skiing at Lake Pomme de Terre.) It was soon after meeting Walt he began shooting competitive bench rest and later set two world records: the first in 1981 for Heavy Varmint 200 Yard Aggregate; and in 2012 he set the current 100 yard Aggregate Varmint for score record. He was an active member of Mill Creek Rifle Club, serving as treasurer and in other offices, and was appointed director-emeritus for life. He also was a member of the National Bench Rest Shooters Association and National Rifle Association. He served as chairman of the records committee for the NBRSA and was a member of the Varmint for Score records committee. Among those who will miss Larry deeply are his devoted wife, Ruth; his children, Cindy, Mark, Larry Jr., Robbin and Stephen; his step-children, Steve Wiseman, Sheila Stephenson, Eric Wiseman, Kenny Wiseman and Donna Wiseman; his grandchildren Pepsi Vanlerberg Margaret and Benjamin Scanlan; Quintin Kuse; Amber Solwa; Brenden Kuse; Jacob and Brooklyn Wright; Alexis McKenzie; Madi Graves; and 28 more step-grandchildren and great grandchildren; his twin brother Bernie; and dozens, really too many to count, dear friends. A daughter, Lynda, and his parents are predeceased. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at Maple Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, 3300 Shawnee Dr. in K.C., Ks., with services immediately following. Memorial donations may be made to the Catholic Community Hospice, 9740 W. 87th St., Overland Park, Ks.,66212; or to the Humane Society Of Greater Kansas City. Larry’s full obituary may be found at www.maplehillfuneralhome.com.

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Lawrence G. "Larry" Kuse

July 19, 1934 - February 19, 2014