Funeral service is 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29, 2023 at Christ the King Lutheran Church in New Ulm. Pastor Tim Anderson will officiate the service. Burial will follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery, Soldier’s Rest section.

Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Friday, July 28, 2023 at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home – South Chapel in New Ulm. Visitation will continue from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at Christ the King Lutheran Church in New Ulm.

To leave an online condolence for the family, or to sign the guestbook, please visit: www.mvfh.org.

Gardell is survived by his sons, Bruce (Shannon McDonald) Kuelbs, Gary (Heidi Hinderman) Kuelbs; grandchildren, Brandon (Jess) Kuelbs, Jason Kuelbs, Jessica (Gaetano) Cipriano, Rebecca (Chris) Fuller, Joel (Lyndsey) Smith; great-grandchildren, Elena, Kallin, Aubrey, Kamden, Lily, Lola, Laney; and many other relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, LaVonne Kuelbs; his parents; daughter, Julie Ann (Kuelbs) Smith in 2009; sister, Mary Ann (Jim) Broich; and brother-in-law, Chuck Hesse

Gardell Einar Kuelbs was born April 20, 1928 to Einar and Leona (Brand) Kuelbs at the Union Hospital in New Ulm. He attended school distric #13 in Brown County through 8th grade and continued to work on the farm. Gar enlisted in the United States Army in 1953, serving in Signal Corps in Germany until 1955. On April 25, 1957, Gar was united in marriage to LaVonne Hesse at the Evangelical and Reformed Church, which became the United Church of Christ, in New Ulm. After marriage, the couple moved to the Kuelbs family farm north and west of Essig. In 1989, Gar retired from active farming and moved to New Ulm.

Gar was a well-known bowler in New Ulm following his release from the US Army. He bowled at George’s Bowling Ally, Bowlomat, and Concordia Lanes. In his earlier years, he held an average of 193, a high single game of 279 at George’s, and High Series of 744 in the City League and still enjoyed bowling in the Super Seniors League in 2021. As opposed to golf, his comment was “when you bowl, the ball always comes back to you!”

Gar was a big part in forming the PeeWee and Peanuts Baseball program in Essig in the 1960’s. As his own boys grew up, he graduated to coaching the 16-18 year old Essig By-County team. He was a 60 year member of the New Ulm American Legion, where he continued his baseball involvement by serving as Treasurer of the local American Legion Baseball program for many years.

He was a member of the United Church of Christ in New Ulm, where he served on the church council and property committee for many years. Gar then became a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in New Ulm.

Many fond memories were made with the Saturday morning coffee group and with his card playing group at the County Club. Gar will be dearly missed by those that knew him. Blessed be his memory.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Oak Hills Living Center and Christ the King Lutheran Church.

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