Dotty Elizabeth (nee Ochterbeck) Kuhlmann
fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Friday, 4 September 2026 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Dotty was preceded in death by her parents, John & Dorothy Ochterbeck; her sisters, Carol Askins and Patty Ferguson; and her mother-in-law, Margaret Kuhlmann. Dotty was born on 6 May 1942 in St. Louis, Missouri. Beloved wife for 65 years of John R. Kuhlmann, Jr. Loving mother of Dorothy (Richard) Murphy, John (Mary Louise) Kuhlmann, III, Deanna (Robert) Kuhlmann-Leavitt, and Donna (Mark) Mueller; loving grandmother of Stephanie and Richard, II (Sami) Murphy, Chloe(Ryan) Nelson, Robert, III and Lauren Broyles, Robert, Jr. and Jane Leavitt, Grace, Donny (Br. Macarius of Jesus Christ Crucified), and Sophia Mueller; loving great grandmother of Chesney Murphy and baby Murphy. Loving daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend to many.
Dotty attended Baden Elementary School, graduated from Beaumont High School, and married John in 1961. She then devoted her life to raising her 4 children and being John’s right hand partner as they successfully started (in 1974) and ran Kuhlmann design Group for the next 44 years. Dotty retired from KdG in 1996 and John retired in 2018. Family always came first with Dotty. The care and love she gave to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are beyond measure. Dotty was the epitome of love, kindness, humility, charity, and beauty.
Dotty’s personality and smile lit up every room she ever walked into and brought joy to all of those around her. Her first love (of hobbies) is fishing. Some of her favorite memories were fishing with her Dad, starting as a little girl; fishing at their lake house; and fishing with her grandchildren. If you were on the boat when she was fishing it was best to stay clear from the avid fisherwoman as she would cast her reel no matter who or what was going on around her. She loved playing golf; particularly the Four Seasons League with her friends. She also played in countless charity tournaments with John and their engineer friends and associates. Dotty enjoyed bowling and was on a league with friends and her daughter Dottie for years; she was also a member of the Engineer’s Club bowling league with John for years, including this past spring. Dotty was very active and held all of the officer positions, including president, for the St. Louis Chapter of Missouri Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE) Wives Auxiliary. She also held the golf league officer positions including president at Four Seasons Country Club.
Dotty and her family are extremely grateful to all of her friends and neighbors who treated Dotty as family and showed such loving care, in a special way, these last few years.
Services: Visitation will be held at Ortmann-Stipanovich Funeral Home on Thursday, 10 September from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm, located at 12444 Olive Boulevard, Creve Coeur, MO 63141. Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, 11 September at The Oratory of Ss. Gregory and Augustine (St. Luke’s Church) at 10:00 am located at 7230 Dale Avenue, Richmond Heights, MO 63117. Interment: TBD
Please have a Holy Mass offered for the repose of Dotty’s soul. Contact the Oratory or any Catholic Church of your choice.
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