Frederick Hamilton "Hammy" Kuhlke

Mr. Frederick Hamilton “Hammy” Kuhlke, 76, husband of Mary Angela Kuhlke, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Tuesday, October 31, 2017.
Mr. Kuhlke, a native and lifelong resident of Augusta, was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Bernhardt Kuhlke, Sr. He was a 1959 graduate of Academy of Richmond County. He was admitted to Mercer University where he met and fell in love with “Angie” the first week of classes. He joined Sigma Nu Fraternity and they were pinned on Valentine’s Day 1961. He graduated from Mercer in 1964 with a major in law from the Walter F. George School of Law.
He served his country in the 382nd Field Hospital Medical Unit from Augusta and remained a reservist for six years. Mr. Kuhlke began his working career with Sherman & Hemstreet where he obtained his real estate brokers license and in 1968 joined the family construction business forming the real estate division with his father and brothers, concentrating in commercial & industrial park development. He was named President of Kuhlke Properties by his father in 1979, where they embarked upon the development and expansion of the Masters Economy Inn chain of motel properties in Georgia and South Carolina. In 1988 he opened The Boardroom Men’s Clothier with his son-in-law, Stan Reynolds, who currently owns the business. In 1990 he purchased Richards Furriers Cold Storage, which is still in operation today.
Mr. Kuhlke was past president of the Rotary Club of Augusta and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Advisory Board of Wells Fargo Bank; member and past President of the Board of St. John Towers and Sacred Heart Cultural Center and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Augusta District United Methodist Church for 23 years.
He also served on the local boards of Child Enrichment, Inc., American Cancer Society, past President of the Summerville Exchange Club, executive board of the Georgia-Carolina Council Boy Scouts of America and the Episcopal Day School. He was a member of the Augusta Country Club.
His most important service was a life long active member of Trinity on the Hill United Methodist church, where his parents had him baptized. His Kuhlke grandparents were charter members of Trinity. He served leadership roles from his youth through adulthood. He and Angie were members of the Pairs and Spares Sunday School class where he served as past President. He served numerous committees, and chaired the Administrative Board and the Staff-Parrish Relations committee and served eight terms as lay leader of the congregation.
Family members include daughters Mary Leigh Kuhlke Harbin and husband Bertram Dykes Harbin, Jr.; Jennifer Kuhlke Reynolds and husband Stanley Charles Reynolds; and Vera Elsie “Sissy” Kuhlke Gardner and son-in-law James Collie Gardner III. Hammy is survived by brother William Bernhardt Kuhlke, Jr. and wife Beth; his sister in law Barbara Kuhlke; and his brother in law Edgar Strange; nephew Tripp and nieces Chrislynne, Cindy, and Kathy. He is preceded in death by his twin brother, Dessey Landrum Kuhlke and nephews Brian and David.
“Popsy” was beloved by his six grandchildren Blythe Elizabeth Reynolds, Bertram Dykes Harbin III, Frederick Hamilton Kuhlke Harbin, Mary Hamilton Reynolds, Mary Angela Harbin and James Collie Gardner IV.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 am, Saturday, November 4th at Trinity on the Hill United Methodist Church with Dr. Mike Cash and Rev. Greg Hatfield officiating. Honorary pallbearers include Jay Harper, Troy Holloway, Steve Hopkins, Roddy Kitchens, Ben McElreath, Rob MacGregor, Larry Moss, Terry Surrency and members of Rotary Club of Augusta.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Trinity on the
Hill United Methodist Church, 1330 Monte Sano Avenue, Augusta, GA
30904
The family will receive friends following the service in the church gathering area.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com