Neal E. Kuhn, 80, of Manilla passed away Friday, June 7, 2019 at MHP Medical Center in Shelbyville.
He was born July 25, 1938, in Shelbyville, the son of Emil and Caroline (Wissing) Kuhn. On June 10, 1960, he married his beloved wife of nearly 59 years, Nancy Lynn Bausback, and she survives.
In addition to Nancy, Neal is survived by sons, David Kuhn and wife, Karla, of Rushville, and Lynn Kuhn and wife, Kellie, of Manilla; daughter, Beverly Galvin and husband, Brian, of Fort Myers, Florida; sister, Harriett Schmid and husband, Richard, of Shelbyville; grandchildren, Elisha Hart and husband, Mike, Adam Kuhn, Ryan Kuhn and wife, Kylie, Emilie Carson and husband, Spencer, and Caroline Kuhn and fiance’, Jared Mills; great grandchildren, Erin Michelle Kuhn, Mia Hart and Lyla Hart; and a large extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Neal graduated in 1956 from Manilla High School, and attended Purdue University.
He was a life-time member of the Zion Evangelical Church, where he had served as a past president of the church board.
Neal was a lifelong farmer, the farm on which he and Nancy lived is a Hoosier Homestead Farm and has been in the family for well over 100 years. He also worked for 34 years at Pioneer Hybrid, where he was an Area Supervisor, Harvest Dispatcher and an Interplant and Shipping Coordinator, retiring in 2001.
Neal was a very active member and past president of the following organizations; Rush County Fair board, serving for 62 years from 1957 to 2019; the Indiana State Fair Board from 1988 to 1994; and the Indiana Association of Fairs, attending for over 50 years, where he served as District Director and was inducted into the “Hall of Fame”.
He was also a member of the Indiana Standardbred Horse Commission, Rush County Farm Bureau, American Southdown Breeders Association, and the Manilla Volunteer Fire Department.
Neal was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Frank O’Bannon.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 10, 2019 at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison Street in Shelbyville and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at Zion Evangelical Church, 7025 ECR 100 N, Shelbyville, Indiana.
Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with Pastor Brad Schultz officiating.
Interment will be in Zion Cemetery in Shelby County.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 6100 W. 96th St., Suite 200, Indianapolis, Indiana 46278 or the American Diabetes Association, 8604 Alisonville Road, Suite 140, Indianapolis, Indiana 46250.
Online condolences may be shared with Neal’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.