George Edward Kuehnl, Jr., 81, a former carpenter in his family's construction business and founding partner of the Bellevue Investors Co. real-estate development firm, died Sunday in Lake Park Hospice, Sylvania.
He had been in failing health, battling staph infection and renal failure, his son, George Kuehnl III, said.
Mr. Kuehnl and his brother, Robert Kuehnl, were longtime partners in their father's general contracting business, George E. Kuehnl and Sons Construction, building homes, service stations, and commercial structures in northwest Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana from the late 1940s through the 1960s.
The brothers started out doing much of the carpentry work themselves, and later split their duties as the business grew, with the younger George Kuehnl managing the office functions.
George Kuehnl, Jr., later became part of a trio including Sam Helberg, a barber, and Dr. Charles Moulopoulos, a dentist, who in 1959 formed Bellevue Investors Co. The real-estate venture gradually evolved from a small, part-time operation to one that built shopping centers and office complexes.
"He was intrigued with developing things and watching things grow," his son said.
Earlier projects included the Stadium Plaza Shopping Center in Bowling Green, Georgetown Mall in Ann Arbor, and several commercial buildings that dot the Talmadge Road-Monroe Street area near Westfield Franklin Park mall.
Now headquartered in Sylvania Township, the firm is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, said Tom Helberg, the company's managing partner and son of the late Sam Helberg.
Under Mr. Kuehnl's tutelage, "they developed hundreds of thousands of square feet of retail throughout northwest Ohio," said Mr. Helberg, who considered Mr. Kuehnl a mentor.
He also was known for his work ethic, upstanding character, and calm demeanor, Mr. Helberg said.
A Toledo native, Mr. Kuehnl attended the former DeVilbiss High School and served for a short period in the U.S. Navy's Seabees.
The Kuehnl brothers continued to run their family's construction business until the early 1980s. George Kuehnl, Jr., remained active as a senior partner at Bellevue Investors until recently. His brother, Robert Kuehnl, died last year.
Along with his home in Sylvania, Mr. Kuehnl and his wife, the former Bonna Hutchinson, kept a house in Sarasota, Fla.
Mr. Kuehnl's hobbies included fishing and hunting, and he often traveled to Canada and surrounding states to hunt moose, boar, wild turkey, and pheasant. He was a longtime member of Gideons International.
Surviving are his wife of nearly 60 years, Bonna Kuehnl; daughters, Janet Frobase and Judy Kessler; son, George Kuehnl III; sisters, Ruth Lampe and Marie Shantau; eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 Sylvania Ave., where services be at 1 p.m. tomorrow. The family suggests tributes to Gideons International or the Cherry Street Mission.
First Published November 4, 2008, 10:56 a.m.
