Obituary: Rev. Dr. Robert T. Kuhn, former LCMS president

Kuhn

The Rev. Dr. Robert T. Kuhn, former president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the LCMS Central Illinois District (CID), died on March 1. He was 87.

Kuhn was born to Walter and Evelyn (Buss) Kuhn in St. Paul, Minn., on April 5, 1937. He married Judith Mittenzwey on June 8, 1963. Also in 1963, he received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL). He served as a parish pastor for many years in Illinois. He also served as assistant director of Development (1977–1979) at Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University Chicago) in River Forest, Ill.; as a circuit counselor (1966–1970); as a member of the CID Board of Directors (1972–1995); and as chairman of the Synod’s 150th anniversary committee (1993–1998). He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity by Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, in 1988.

In 1985, Kuhn was elected CID president, a position he held until 1995, when he was elected LCMS first vice-president. In 2001, following the death of LCMS President Rev. Dr. A.L. Barry, he became LCMS president, serving for five months until the election of the Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick. He served on the Synod’s Board of Directors from 2001 to 2013, including nine years as its chairman. In 2013, he was elected LCMS sixth vice-president, a position he held until 2015, when he stepped down for health reasons. He also served on the Synod’s Sanctity of Life Task Force, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations and as chairman of the Pastoral Colloquy Committee.

LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison said, “Dr. Kuhn’s long goodbye to this world has now turned to marvelous greetings in the heavenly mansions prepared for the saints. Bob loved Jesus; was a rock-ribbed Lutheran; loved his church, loved the LCMS and loved people. He graciously assumed the role of Synod president when Dr. Barry died suddenly in spring 2001, but he had no desire to stand for election that summer. It was time, he said, for him to be with his dear ones, especially his Judy.

“The time I spent with him as he served as regional vice-president of Synod was a joy. He was ever gracious and supportive to me, a relatively young LCMS president finding his way in a complex situation. We felt a tremendous loss when Bob decided to resign mid-term for health reasons. These years since have seemed a long Lent of loss and sadness. Now Bob’s Easter has come, and ours is not far away. Christ is risen. Alleluia!”

Quoted in a 2015 article in Reporter that provided an overview of his 50-plus years of service to the church, Kuhn spoke of “God’s phenomenal grace.”

“Maturity does not come only in age, but also through ministry,” he said. “By the grace of God, that ministry for me has had great variety. … More decisions and experiences than can be remembered or listed, but each and all of them had a significant role in maturation. From a school boy in a small, rural grade school — afraid to speak in front of the class, to having the privilege of chairing one of the conventions of the Synod. What a journey!”

Judy Kuhn died in 2014. Robert Kuhn’s family summarized his legacy on a website dedicated to his memory:

“Rev. Kuhn’s influence extended far beyond the church walls. His leadership, marked by compassion and a deep reliance on God’s grace, nurtured not only the spiritual lives of his congregants but also set a powerful example for future generations of church leaders. He leaves behind a loving family — three children, eight grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren — who have grown under the guiding light of his faith and wisdom. His commitment to stewarding the gifts God entrusted to him, both in ministry and in family life, will continue to inspire all who knew him.”

Posted March 18, 2025