John Harold Wulfkuhle

John Harold Wulfkuhle, 88, a Lawrence, KS resident for over 70 years, passed away on September 3, 2023 at the University of Kansas Medical Center after a brief illness.

John was born on February 18, 1935 to Harold and Lela “Helene” (Walrafen) Wulfkuhle in Topeka, KS. After John graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in Lawrence in 1954, he went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Kansas in 1958. He joined the Naval ROTC and then served in the United States Navy and the Naval Reserves as a Supply Corps Lieutenant until 1968. John received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 1966 and proudly practiced family dentistry in Lawrence for over 40 years.

John met his beloved wife, Frances Ann Wickey (Fran) in January, 1965, on a blind date at the ‘The Bigger Jigger’ in Kansas City. John was finishing dental school and Fran was working as a surgical nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital at that time. They married on November 27, 1965 and were virtually inseparable for the ensuing 58 years. John’s devotion to Fran was obvious to anyone and everyone who met them. They raised four extraordinary (his word…not ours) children while living west of Lawrence in a farmhouse built in 1861 that John ambitiously remodeled with the help of friends and family. In 1991, John and Fran moved south of Lawrence to a house that John collaboratively designed and built. Maintaining their home and property was a satisfying labor of love for him.

John was a quintessential family man and ‘togetherness’ brought him his greatest joy. John delighted in family trips and he treasured spending time with his extended family from Topeka, Tonganoxie and Texas. He was happiest spending time with his family at the pond: fishing, canoeing, camping and eating s’mores around the bonfire. He introduced the ‘Wulfkuhle Family Member of the Year’ award in 2003, announcing the victor annually at Christmas dinner with his signature emotional and heartfelt delivery. John took great pride in his family’s accomplishments and he was immeasurably thoughtful to one and all. John’s entire family were truly blessed to have such an attentive, dedicated, and unselfish supporter.

John had a competitive streak and he was a passionate lifelong Kansas Jayhawks fan. His patented free-throw ‘hex’ and other spirited exclamations were known to many and were likely heard throughout all of Douglas County on any given game day. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

John’s family was a ‘founding family’ of Corpus Christi Catholic Church. He served on the board for the Lawrence Catholic School Endowment, as well as the Douglas County Public Health Committee as Chairman and Treasurer, and the Rural Water Board. He was a member of the Douglas County Dental Society, served on the Douglas County Planning Commission and was a member of the Breakfast Cosmos.

John was predeceased by his parents, his sister and brother-in-law, Esther and Jim Hufford and his son-in-law, John Cooper, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Fran; his sister, Janice Lamb (Fort Worth, TX); his children, Julia Wulfkuhle (Columbia, MD), Mary Gladstone (Jason, Prairie Village, KS), Michael Wulfkuhle (Jayne Yelich, Denver, CO), Erica Ross (John, Irvine, CA); his grandchildren, Charlie Ross, Henry Ross, Emmie Gladstone and Ruby Ross; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence, KS on Monday, September 11, 2023 at 11:00am. A rosary will precede the funeral mass at 10:30am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. John Catholic School and/or Corpus Christi Catholic School.