Mitchell Kuhn was born in Bloomington, Illinois on December 29,1947 to Russell John Kuhn and Marilyn Elaine Peterson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dru Diedrich; and is survived by his older brother, Ron (Cathy) Kuhn; his sister-in-law, Lynn Diedrich; and many cousins and numerous friends.

Mitch’s early childhood was somewhat unsettled as the family moved many times but eventually, they settled in Rock Island, Illinois when Mitch was in the fifth grade. It was there that he made lasting friendships that he maintained throughout his life.

Summers were spent outdoors at a tiny cabin on Green Bay near Marinette, Wisconsin with his mother and his brother Ron. Built by his grandfather, it was only one room but right on the beach, with swimming, fishing, gathering firewood, and playing ball. They never felt cramped except perhaps when it rained.

He spent time in Wisconsin later too—at Layton College where he earned a BA in Fine Arts, at advertising firms where he worked in Madison and Milwaukee, and on Washington Island where his mother and her second husband maintained a home.

Advertising jobs eventually led Mitch to Chicago where he found his community, new friends and a new focus, politics, and a new career, working for himself as a graphic designer. Politics became a big part of his business and his interest. It was during this time that he began collecting political items.

Like many Chicagoans he became a big fan of the Chicago Cubs, spending many enjoyable games at Wrigley Field with his friends.

He met his beloved wife, Dru, in 1991 through his sister-in -law, Cathy, who had become friends with Dru and her mother when they worked in the same office building in the Detroit area. Cathy and Ron, who lived in Arizona at the time, were in Chicago for a convention. Cathy invited Dru to join them for dinner and of course Ron invited Mitch. They met over dinner and the rest, as they say, is history.

Mitch became very active in political item collecting through several organizations and made many friends throughout the country doing this. He was also very interested in the Civil War, visited all the battlefields, and had an extensive library of books on the period.

He was particularly active in the Carter organization (CPIC) and met Jimmy and Rosalynn many times on his pilgrimages to Plains, Georgia. He also served as president of the Carter Political Items Collectors in 1996.

Mitch also loved classical music. He and Dru had seasons tickets to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for a number of years and he was especially fond of Beethoven.

Mitch’s love of nature fostered during those summers in Wisconsin was evident when he spent time at the Diedrich farm. He enjoyed many idyllic summer days there and spent time with the tractor creating a maze of paths throughout the property. The 4th of July was a particularly happy holiday almost always spent there, watching fireworks for over 30 years.

It is there that his ashes will be interred, at a favorite spot overlooking a small pond just beyond a culvert that he built.

A memorial lunch is planned for Saturday, March 15th, at the home of Lynn Diedrich.

Please inquire if you wish to attend.