Merrill M. Kuller Obituary (1929 - 2013)

Merrill M. Kuller, age 84, of Naples, FL, died peacefully in his home on November 22, 2013. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1929, Mr. Kuller graduated from Central High School in 1947 and from the University of Minnesota in 1950. He served as a Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps in Korea from 1951-53. In 1954, he married Gracia Klein. Mr. Kuller worked in his family’s business, Minnesota Knitting Mills, from the age of 13 until he retired in 1988 as a partner. With his wife, Gracia, he moved to Naples, Florida in 1997. Throughout his life Mr. Kuller was active in community affairs, serving as: Board member of the Indianhead Council, Boy Scouts of America (the youngest member to have done so at the time)., Member, National Eagle Scout Association, President and Founder of the B’nai B’rith Lodge, St. Paul, President, B’nai B’rith Vocational Service, President, Anti-Defamation League of Minnesota and the Dakotas, President and Capital Campaign Chairman of the United Jewish Fund and Council, St. Paul, President, Temple of Aaron, St. Paul. During his years in Naples, Mr. Kuller was a founding member of the Holocaust Museum of Southwest Florida. He was actively involved in the Naples Equestrian Challenge and was a board member of the Catholic-Jewish dialogue. Mr. Kuller’s commitment to teaching and helping young children was well known in the communities where he lived, as he taught countless neighborhood children to swim, introduced them to the pleasures of horseback riding, scouting, skiing and sailing. Most fortunate were his grandchildren. Mr. Kuller is preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey D. Kuller; grandson, Jason Schleien. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Gracia; children, Jo Kuller, Sandra Kuller, and Dana (Stuart) Schleien; grandchildren, Kai (Nichole) Kuller, Ben Kuller, Sophie Kuller, Jenna Schleien, Alexa Schleien, and Isabelle Kuller; brothers, Ted (Marcia Jacobs) Kuller, Harold (Judy) Kuller; daughter-in-law, Alison Kuller; brother-in-law, Louis (Linda Singer) Klein. Graveside service MONDAY 12 NOON, TEMPLE OF AARON CEMETERY, Larpenteur & Dale, Roseville. Memorials preferred to AVOW Hospice, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples, FL 3410 or donor’s favorite charity. SHIVA at Temple of Aaron Synagogue, 616 S. Mississippi River Blvd., St. Paul, Monday evening 7 pm.